One of the best parts of career coaching is helping clients visualize their ideal career. This means every aspect of their career.
A simple question like: “What is your ideal work environment?” may have you thinking about an office or cool cubicle. Or, you may be thinking about a river raft or a warm sunny beach. It could be working with great people, or perks like a company gym, or autonomy like being able to work from home.
What pops into your mind when you ask yourself?
Have you ever been in a lousy job? Then you know the work environment is extremely important to your success, fulfillment, attitude, and mental well-being. So…..what is your ideal work environment? Are you sitting there right now?
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Jay Markunas is a Career Coach who believes that an ideal environment is vital to success. Along with his partner, Angela Loëb, he helps people gain clarity and develop successful strategies for career transition. Through their company, Great Occupations, they help job seekers and career shifters by offering The Job Search Boot Camp webinar, Find a Career You Love tele-coaching event, career & job coaching services, and career-related products.
What you can do in 2010 to get the job you want!
#1 - Identify the job you want
Don’t just take “a job”. Identify a job that really motivates you. A job that ignites your passions. There are great exercises, assessments, and advice that you can find on the internet. In fact, we help people identify their calling. Visit our website for more information.
#2 - Rewrite your resume
Many times the first step of job searching is a resume. Is your’s up to date? Do you have an “objective” or a “professional summary”? If you have an objective, take it off and replace it with a professional summary. Are you using quotes and recommendations on your resume? There are plenty of ways to update your resume and bring it into the 21st century!
#3 - Create a Job Search Plan
Reacting to job postings will get your nothing but frustration. Devise a plan that allows you to target companies you’d like to work for that can support your job. Then approach them. This is a proactive (or Targeted) Job Search.
Follow these three steps, and you’ll be getting plenty of calls and interviews!
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Jay Markunas is a Fortune 500 HR Professional and Career Coach. Along with his partner, Angela Loëb, he helps people gain clarity and develop successful strategies for career transition. Through their company, Great Occupations, they help job seekers and career shifters by offering seminars, webinars, tele-coaching events and individualized coaching services.
“It could be his head wasn’t screwed on just right.
It could be, perhaps, that his shoes were too tight.”
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Dr. Seuss
Monday night at the Compass Career Networking Group, we began talking about illegal interview questions. Would a hiring manager eliminate a candidate who didn’t answer these Grinchy question(s)? The nerve of them! If they do then are certainly Mr. & Mrs. Grinch’s! I won’t talk about your recourse, instead I’m going to tell you how to answer gracefully.
Unfortunately not all hiring managers know when they are asking an illegal question in the interview.
An illegal question is any question dealing with race, color, sex, religion, national origin, birthplace, age, disability, or marital/family status. Many times the interviewer is someone who doesn’t “know the rules”, and they will ask questions unknowingly such as “Are you married?”, or “Where did you grow up?”, or “Do you have any children?”. All these question, as innocent as they sound, are illegal questions. So don’t let these “grinchy” questions ruin your interview.
How do you gracefully not answer them?
Sure you could answer the question, but what if it comes down to you and another candidate that does not have kids? Gracefully deflecting the question may be the best option.
For example:
Interviewer: “Do you have children?” (illegal)
You: “I do not have any barriers that would prevent me from being successful in this position….if that is the question.”
Interviewer: “Are you a United States citizen?” (illegal)
You: “If you are asking am I authorized to work in the United States, then the answer is “yes’.” (note: work authorization questions are legal to ask)
Always try to answer the “intent of the question”, but don’t let these little grinchy questions ruin an interview - especially when you can deflect them and reassure the hiring manager that you can do the job well.
Merry Christmas!
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Jay Markunas is a Fortune 500 HR Professional and Career Coach. Along with his partner, Angela Loëb, he helps people gain clarity and develop successful strategies for career transition. Through their company, Great Occupations, they help job seekers and career shifters by offering seminars, webinars, tele-coaching events and individualized coaching services.
The holidays are a time for family, friends, and celebration. Today’s Daily Job Tip is simple - make time for your friends and family for the rest of the holiday season. Enjoy the time you spend together, and be thankful for all those in your life.
Recharge your batteries. Play games, eat unhealthy food, watch football, relax, and enjoy the simple pleasures.
Life is serious, and it will be just as serious next week. Next week, tackle your job search with a new vigor! Set goals - How many resumes will you send out? How many phone call follow-ups will you make? As always, make them resonable and achievable goals.
“You deserve a break today!” - McDonalds Commercial, 1971
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Jay Markunas is a Fortune 500 HR Professional and Career Coach. Along with his partner, Angela Loëb, he helps people gain clarity and develop successful strategies for career transition. Through their company, Great Occupations, they help job seekers and career shifters by offering seminars, webinars, tele-coaching events and individualized coaching services.