What should one look for when hiring a Career Coach?

 

• Coaching experience, number of individuals coached, years of experience, types of situations, why they chose to be a coach.
• Specific coach training, skills, experience, certifications, additional training and ongoing learning.
• Coaching specialties or type of clients they work with.
• General philosophy and style of coaching.
• The coach’s ability to listen to the underlying story and address in a variety of ways to meet your learning style.
• The manner is which they create a plan of action that will help you get to your desired outcome.
• Their coaching model, assessments they use and or process that will guide you through the process. Look for specific answers not vague generalities.
• Request coaching success stories, specific examples of individuals who have done well and examples of how they added value to their clients.=
• Assess their ability to listen and ask thought provoking questions that make you think and may even make you uncomfortable.
• Watch for the manner in which they hold congruency in their life. Do they walk their talk-how do they follow through, what is the “extra they provide”.
• Ask what professional resources and materials that they could include networking and research resources.
• Ask for references of other clients they worked with, listen to what others say regarding their reputation.
• Look for stylistic similarities and differences between the coach and you and how they might support your growth as an individual or the growth of your business.
• Discuss your goals for coaching within the context of the coach’s specialty or the coach’s preferred way of working with an individual or team.
• Have a personal interview with one or more coaches to determine “what feels right” in terms of the chemistry.
• Find out what how the sessions are conducted, the frequency and cost.
• Talk with the coach about what to do if you ever feel things are not going well; make some agreements up front on how to handle questions or problems.
• Remember that coaching is a partnership; so be assertive about talking with the coach about anything that is of concern at any time.

 

 

New Career Coaching Club for Professionals begins Monday November 20th!

I'm proud to announce the Career Coaching Club for Professionals seeking employement!
Start your job search off right with this unique concept that blends lecture with a lab experience and is guided by professional Career Coach, Heather Wieshlow and guest instructors will work with individuals each week so that they will have tangible deliverables and will be built on accountability. This Coaching Lab is excellent for individuals that have had some job search training but need help in actually implementing the basic concepts taught. Professional environment, fun people, excellent learning all designed to help you land your next position!

4 Week Program - Mondays 8:30 – 12:30pm
Irvine, CA

For more detailed schedule and how to get started. http://careerclub.meetup.com/cities/us/ca/laguna_niguel/

Key Points to Remember when you "Tell me about Yourself"

The purpose of "Tell me about Yourself" is a way for the interviewer to get to know who you are as an individual, find out what your background and areas of expertise are and if it meets their needs. It also sets the stage for the entire interview process. Much can be garnered from this powerful question including how you communicate, your level of confidence, your ability to organize information, level of honesty and trust you project, your ability to influence, whether you prepared or not, clarity on desired direction and to the more discerning eye many non-verbal factors that can be indicative of numerous other "areas of interest".
KEY POINTS TO REMEMBER:
1. Should be approximately 2 minutes in length.
2. Emphasize specific work history and areas of expertise that are applicable to the position you are applying for.
3. Focus should be on your professional skills spoken from overview perspective not a chronological recap of your entire life history...example: when I was six years old I moved from Wisconsin from a dairy farm, then when I was seven...
4. Write your two minute version of your "30 Second Commercial" then practice it out loud numerous times. Do not memorize it, rather integrate it so that is flows easily, is fresh, always comes across as interesting and is spoken in a conversational tone. If it is boring and done by rote you will be bored and so will the interviewer. I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to practice this out loud and receive feedback...it takes time to get it right!
5. Remember that this is just an "appetizer" and that you want to engage the interviewer in a way that creates interest and allows you to share your power stories about what you do and that showcases who you are and what you bring to the table.
6. Remember to use the accomplishments spoken in the PAR (Problem, Action, Result) format. It is nice to hear that you take the initiative, but the proof will be shown if you can share an accomplishment that proves that you take the intiative. Share percentages, numbers, dollars, time saved etc for more impact and validity.
7. Share pertinent information that is relevant to the position and the company. Everyone has numerous accomplishments but choosing the right ones for the right position allow you to be seen as the right candidate.
8. Branding is important. How do you want to be known will be reflected in your tagline as well as how you come across on a personality level and in what you say.
9. Speak to the person you are interviewing with, not at them with and remember to make a connection.
10. Be authentic, speak from your heart but organize your information with your head.

Hope this information helps all of you working on your "Tell me about Yourself"

Deals of the Day

During difficult economic times and career transitions people want to save money. As a Chief Career Strategist, I know how important it is to stretch your dollars and have put up the great Deals of the Day on this blog to help you out. Enjoy, save and add to it if you hear of some really amazing offers.

Free World Famous Wealth Creation Seminar with T-Harv Ecker

Join the nearly 1 million people whose lives have been positively changed at the Millionaire Mind Intensive 3-day seminar. Learn more about your beliefs about money and how to make opportunities work for you.
May 15-17, 2009---Los Angeles, CA
Enter promo code SA1656 and reference number 556543


Discount on DMV Registration Fees

This one came from a friend of mine...On May 19, the CA vehicle registration fee increases from .65% to 1.15% of the car’s value. That means that the VLF for a $30,000 car goes from $195 to $345 or from $390 to $690 for a $60,000 car.

Now, you can’t RENEW your registration until it is due and you get the forms in the mail. So if your registration expires in June or July, you have to pay the higher renewal fees even if you were to pay them before May 19.

Or, you can REGISTER your car (not renew) before May 19 and pay the lower fee. It will start a new cycle that ends in May, 2010. If your renewal date is within the next few months after May, you will come out ahead. You can do this at the Auto Club, if you are a member, or online at http://www.dmv.ca.gov/forms/formsreg_alpha.htm


Free Wi Fi in Orange County, CA

Get out of the house and hang out with other people. These locations and a laptop make it possible for free!

Starbucks Register your gift card and receive two hours of free internet access each day

Claim Jumper Yummy food and drinks plus free wifi

• Panera Bread Great place for meetings and offers free wifi

• Corner Bakery Serving great food and fee wifi


• Mission Viejo Library Free internet access , excellent resources and computers that you can use. Also check out other libraries in the area including Irvine Library and Newport Library other Orange County Libraries