Change is process. There is a beginning, middle, and an end. In the beginning you may be unclear about what your options are. You may wonder whether your experience is relevant. Or you may have concerns about things over which you have no control such as your age or race. This is just your Inner Gremlin or Fearful Voice talking.  The fact you are reading this blog already tells me  you ARE employable.

Once you make the decision to explore a career transition you might be tempted to jump in and reply to postings that you find interesting. Hold off, there are some steps you need to take before you can start looking at opportunities.

You might make an appointment with a career coach expecting him or her to tell you what you would be good at. A reputable career coach will NOT tell you that instead they will give you the tools and the feedback to reach an informed decision.

A satisfying transition starts with a thorough exploration of career history, interests, and values. Make a date with yourself to go to visit a place that is relaxing. Some of my favorite places include the beach, park, or down under the Brooklyn Bridge. Bring along a pen, notebook and print out of this posting. WARNING: you may find it difficult to answer these questions, so you bring along some Kleenex, too. While you might find it painful, answering the following the questions is the first step towards a better road.

1. What is causing you to make a change? Has there been a significant change in your industry or the culture of your organization? Are you frequently passed over from promotions? Are you unable to find work in your field?
2. How long have you been feeling this way or thinking about making a change? Days, weeks, months, years? How often do you think about making a change?
3. How has this affected your life? Do you feel irrelavent? alone? Do you lose sleep? Have headaches? Frequent disagreements with friends and family?
4. What will it cost you financially, emotionally, spiritually… if things remain the same?
5. How do you envision your life will be different once you have completed your change?

In MyCareerCoach’s next blog post I will share more tips for making a rewarding career transition

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You can clutch the past so tightly to your chest that it leaves your arms too full to embrace the present.” Jan Glideswell

This quote describes one of the most costly roadblocks to change. The loss of a job can be extremely painful. One woman I know held on so tightly to the idea of getting back her former life as a top level executive in an industry that was rapidly changing. She neglected to keep up with the trends or consider other options. After 3 years of unemployment and the loss of her entire savings she accepted a much lower position.

The corporate landscape has changed over the last decade. Social marketing and other new technologies have impacted jobs in publishing, marketing, and manufacturing. Other jobs have changed so dramatically that everyone from support staff to the executive suite are forced to learn new skills. This is great if you enjoy the new way of doing things and quite stressful if you don’t .

Recently my husband read When Everything Changes, Change Everything by Neale Donald Walsh. If nothing else the title describes exactly what I suggest for you to consider. As industries change you may find that what was once a great fit is now your worst nightmare.

Signs that this might be happening to you is frequent job changes. Feeling overwhelmed and frustrated because you can cannot keep up with new technologies or strongly disagree with how business is being run. If you are unable to embrace changes in your industry, it might be time to let go.

Would you like to make a career change? Contact amditta@mycareercoach.net / 917-576-2821 about the Change Your Career, Change Your Life program, starting soon.

Susan was divorced several years ago. Up until about a year agao she had been looking for Mr. Right. However, the men she dated were more like Mr. “More of the Same”; needy, immature and self-centered. Did I mention that Susan was a social worker?

The problem was Susan had been attracted to the wrong men.  Over the years, I encouraged her to be open to men who did not immediately appear to be her type. It took awhile but eventually she started to do things differently.

About 14 months ago, Susan met Mike, who was also divorced. Initially Susan thought Mike was a nice man even if she didn’t feel that spark of excitement. It wasn’t until the fifth date that she realized how special Mike really was. Over the past year, they have laughed together, overcame a crisis’ together, and more recently set up home together.

Career paths can sometimes be like dating. Over the years, I have known really smart talented people who keep going back to “More of the Same” industries and companies that keep giving them headaches and disappointments.  Let’s face it, if nothing changes then nothing changes.

If you frequently find yourself in this position it might be time for a change.

For learn more about making a  career transition or to to receive information about our new Change Your Career, Change Your Life Coaching group, email us at amditta@mycareercoach.net.

Getting in touch with your inner voice or gut feelings can be confusing? For Mr. Putnam his inner voice nudged him while he was conducting a deposition in New York “Everyone there was very senior and making serious bucks. That’s when I looked around and [realized] I didn’t want to spend the best part of my life getting to where they are.”

Strong emotions can be a a signal that your personal goals need to change. This was the case with a teacher who I coached about a year ago. She was so unhappy with her job that she would wake up in a state of anxiety in the middle of the night.

As we started to examine her strengths, experience, and values she discovered a significant discrepancy between her responsibilities and what she enjoyed doing. The intention of finding joy in her work allowed her to collaborate with her new boss to balance her strengths with the needs of the organizaiton.

Over the past year I have met a lot of people whom, after losing a job, found themselves confused about where they fit in professionally. If you are one of these people, your confusion may be your inner voice’s way of expressing your need for a change.

Over the years I have found the people who trust their instincts, intuition or inner voice to be some of the happiest and most positive people I know. If you ever followed a hunch and had it work out, you probably understand how great it feels to be in sync with your inner voice, the universe, or whatever you attribute it to.

The willingness to trust yourself is key to living the life you want and deserve. If something does not work out as planned, try viewing it as a learning experience and move on.

The simple meditation will help you to get in touch with your inner voice:

Sit in a chair with your feet flat on the floor and your back straight. You may place your hands on your belly or in your lap. Now close your eyes and take a deep breath. Feel the rise and fall of your breath against your fingers. Next, relax your scull, your brow, your eyes, your facial muscles. Release your jaw and gently moisten your lips.

Move down to your throat, let it relax, release all tension from your shoulders. Notice how good this process of letting go feels. Relax your chest, your belly, your thighs, the muscles of your calves, your ankles and feet.

Next picture yourself someplace very beastuful and relaxing like a Caribbean island, forest, mountain top. It does matter, this is your place. It is where you go to relax. Do not worry if an image comes to mind. It is okay to feel it, think it, or just have a sense of someplace enjoyable.

You might want some shelter at your special place. It can be a lean to, tent, large crevice or whatever pleases you. Picture a golden shimmer illuminating your special place. Take in the view.As you become more relaxed you might want to ask your inner self a question about your career. Some things you might want to ask are:

1. What would I like to be paid to do?
2. What is my next career move?
3. What am I most passionate about?
4. What can I do that would be rewarding to the universe as well as my self?
5. What is my purpose or passion in life?

If the answer doesn’t come immediately, that’s okay. The question has been asked and shall be answered in due time. Take a look around as you get ready to leave your special place. Know that you can visit it anytime you need to.

Become aware of your breathing and gently rub the tips of your fingers. Wiggle your toes. Feel the energy come back into your body and slowly open your eyes. You have taken the first step to your new and fulfilling career.

As my career progressed to sales and marketing, I learned first hand the importance of both gathering and sharingi information. A 100 word article passed along to the right person combined with A-1 client relationship management could have a favorable impact on my performance. You see, people remember you not for the simple, every day gestures that say “I care about what is important to you.”

Technologies like Twitter, FaceBook, and LinkedIn have made make it easier to transform handwritten distribution lists into an instant touch across gloabl boundaries that, if done correctly, will catch the attention of hiring managers, recruiters, and professionals.

Here are some do’s and don’ts that will help you engage your audience:

Do

• Treat people as individuals. Share information they want and NEED to read about.
• Use Twitter Search to determine keywords and what people want to know about.
• Be responsive to your followers. Answer and talk to followers as individuals
• Have 2 FaceBook pages – one for yourself and one for your business or services. Post relevant information to both.
• Use a professionally written LinkedIn bio that shows your value as opposed to regurgitating your resume in paragraph.
• Be generous – retweet articles, acknowledge others for their contributions, help your audience connect with other professionals.
• Be consistent and trustworthy. Steady postings that help others will also help you achieve your goals.
• Use Google Chrome to translate Tweets into languages other then English, German, Italian, Spanish, French, Japanese

Don’t

• Post where you are, you might compromise your safety.
• Sell or market yourself or your promote your services.
• Be lackadaisical. The occasional tweet or post is like a drop of water in the ocean. No one notices the impact.
• Make your personal business public. If you have a problem with someone deal with it in private.
• Lose focus of why you are using the technology.

Do you play games like Farmville or other applications. If yes, what has been your experience.

Only this year, things have changed. Shortly before I forked over $8 for a gently used table easel; a long necklace made up of bold beads in primary colors; a pair of  tear drop shaped earrings that look like a cage; and a trendy turquoise and brown top, the homeowner and I got into a conversation about my new office.  She excitedly asked for my business card when she heard I was a career coach. And so it began…my new networking strategy, become the Molly Goldberg of social networking.

For those of you who are too young to remember, Molly Goldberg was the matriarch and yenta  (busybody for those of you who don’t speak Yiddish)  on one of the earliest radio turned television comedies that offered a humorous portrait of Jewish tenement life before later evoking such growing pains as moving into a more suburban setting and struggling with assimilation while sustaining their roots.

Each show began with “Yoo-hoo! Is anybody…?” and in later years was followed by Bud Collyer  warbling, “There she is, folks—that’s Molly Goldberg, a woman with a place in every heart and a finger in every pie”.

About 75% of people who are in a job search groan at the mention of networking. The term conjures up all kinds of images and feelings. However, networking can be fun. It can be part of your regular routine. It can be meeting new people while buying stuff they no longer want or need or being just a little bit like Molly Goldberg, a lovingly meddlesome matriarch.

Testing 1,2, 3...you are on the air

http://www.zontanewrochelle.blogspot.com/

Later that evening I attended a workshop given by Shakti Gawain. For those of you who unfamiliar with her name, Shakti Gawain is a pioneer in the field of self-help and author of the Creative Visualization, the book that launched the Law of Attraction movement. Her writing has both comforted and taught me about myself during difficult times. As a result I have learned to trust my intuition and to become a loving wife, family member, friend and supportive. effective career coach.

The contrast between the morning and evening events motivated me to share my thoughts and insights about fear and the job search.The most important thing to know about fear (or any other difficult feelings) is these are normal emotions that need to be expressed. Fear alerts you to potential danger. What you do with your feeling is within your control.

If you who have relocated from another county and find yourself suddenly unemployed you may experience intense emotions due to factors such as being transferred and then let go or not being able to be with family and friends during this difficult time.

Like my friend the rabbi who incidentally sent me an email to apologize, you might take you anger out on those who reach out to help you or you might sink into a state of despair, the other side of anger. You may become pushy and nearly stalk hiring managers, recruiters, or anyone who may know of a job for you.

Regardless of how angry or upset you are, at some point you will have to come to accept your circumstances and recognize you have the power change that. Incidentally, I have noticed the people who do this with grace find employment faster than those who get stuck in their emotions.

So how do you step out of your funk? The answers may sound silly, too easy, or even Polyannaish. However, I promise you will get the results you either want or need.

If work does not come as quickly as you’d like embrace the opportunity to look inside yourself and see what needs to be done. The following combines ideas that were shared by Shakti Gawain and what I have found to be true for other who have been there:

1. We all create our own experience of reality, what is yours?
2. The more conscious you can be about the process the better you will become at making it happen.
3. Imagine what you want as if it were already there.
4. Use affirmations such as “I am gainfully employed” “I love my work” or “I am an excellent Project Manager and I am handsomely rewarded for my work.”
5. Emotions cannot be controlled. Find a safe place where you can feel your feelings. If you think you are in danger of hurting yourself or have any sign of clinical depression get professional help immediately.
6. Recognize and acknowledge your inner critic / demon.
7. Reassure your inner critic / demon that things will be fine. He / she is a the young child in you who wants to be heard, loved and cared for by you.
8. Tap into your inner wisdom. What advice would you give to a friend? Give it to yourself.
9. Stick with the winners, these are the people who are where you want to be. Ask them for advice such as what they did to achieve their goals.
10. Stay positive. Ask for Help. Read self help books, get a job search buddy, attend workshops that inspire you, find a coach or mentor to help you develop the skills and tools you need to be successful in your job search.

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Passion is often used to describe the skills, target markets, or business role that a candidate is interested in doing as in “I have a passion for coaching international executives”. However, the people who asked me this question wanted more than to sound good. They wanted to be authentic (a trait that impresses hiring managers) in their verbal and written communications.

Given the frequency of the question, it occurred to me that you, too, might wonder what other ways you can say passion. Here are some ideas:

• Love
• Driven
• Mission
• Calling
• Compelled
• Energized .
• I can’t wait to…
• What I was born to do.
• Natural talent
• Excited by
• Attracted
• Magnetized

You are welcome to post your own words for passion.

What your career might look like

It’s an exciting time when a client whom I have been working with reaches their goal. Such was the case yesterday when Mary (not her real name) had her final coaching meeting with me.

During our initial meetings Mary, an educator, told me she was so unhappy with her job, particularly lesson planning, that she frequently woke during the night feeling worried and anxious. Her goal was to make a career change that would value her dual experience as a teacher and psychotherapist. She made it clear that after earning two masters degrees, she would not go back for additional training.

Despite having a good sense of herself, Mary no longer knew what she enjoyed doing, a feeling that is common amongst people who have had the same employer for many years.

To regain contact with her authentic self our meetings focused on her strengths, interests, strengths, values and the types of people she wanted to work with. she said the meetings helped her overcome the erroneous belief that she had to be great at lesson planning.

Once she was clear on what she wanted to use in professional tool chest, I administered the Myers Briggs assessment. Yesterday, she shared the “insight process” (her description of the career exploration phase) was one of the most beneficial things we addressed.

With a stronger understanding of her career direction, Mary explored opportunities as a family / parent educator. We created a powerful resume. She embraced networking, built a strong support network and career advisory team. During our weekly meetings she enthusiastically shared what she accomplished between coaching.

Within a month of using several of the job search strategies I recommended she landed an interview. In the weeks that folllowed she one of two candidates that were being considered. While she did not got an offer, she later acknowledged that the population the position served was not the best fit for her.

As Mary navigated her way through interviews, one-on-one networking meetings, and other activities news of Bernard Madoff ‘s ponzie scheme broke. Overnight opportunities dried up and Mary decided to refocus her efforts on her existing position.

Fortunately for Mary, her supervisor left the organization and a consultant who she got along with, took her place. The new director recognized Mary’s strengths and was anxious to help her develop her talents.

Nearly 18 months after Mary engaged me she is still working for the same organization as a teacher. However, her job is no longer the same. Using a combination of insights gained during the coaching process and the support of her new supervisor Mary recreated her postion. Currently Mary is pursuing training in several practices that compliment her psychotherapy background.

At the end of our last coaching meeting she said she had grown both professionally and personally. She no longer worries about the future instead she embraces each day confident in the knowledge she is exactly where she needs to be.