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Explore the tips, resources and strategies on our new Career & Life Coaching Blog!

Embrace New Experiences

Some simple but powerful words from Ken Blanchard: Open Your World! Expand Your mind and life through new Experiences. The basis of Blanchard's article is to "create your own adventure", live, enjoy and engage in new activities to continue to grow intellectually and spiritually. New experiences spur growth and cultivate opportunities! Blanchard's words of wisdom come to us courtesy of Chief Learning Officer magazine.

PUSH and PULL to Tap the Hidden Job Market

Our friends at Job-Hunt.org offer outstanding advice on using PUSH and PULL strategies to tap the hidden job market through targeted networking activity. "We all hear that most jobs (75% to 85%, reportedly) are not advertised in the newspaper or posted on Web job boards. These invisible jobs are the infamous "hidden job market," and you reach this gold mine of jobs by networking your way into it." PUSH = Reaching Out To the "Hidden Job Market" and PULL = Bringing the "Hidden Job Market" to You!

What BRAND Is Your Resume Promoting?

Invest some time to dive into the wealth of ideas and strategies on PERSONAL BRANDING presented by Job-Hunt.org. You have a generous list of branding links in the right column of the Job-Hunt page.

Set yourself apart from the pack by communicating the explicit impact you will make on an organization. Open your resume with robust branding titles that set the tone of the resume and invite the reader in by implying, "You are about to read a resume of someone who will bring value to your organization by taking on the following key roles/responsibilities". The titles can be positions you are pursuing (and can support with resume content) or functional areas that match your strengths. Be sure to communicate cohesion by carrying your branding through to your Linkedin Profile. Get creative, make it interesting and distinguish yourself from the competition. Sell your most important brand, YOU!

Personal Branding with Focus, Consistency and CREATIVITY

Check out the creative ideas and resources surrounding personal branding from W. Arruda. This two part series presents insightful and innovative ideas to build, support and promote your brand. Your job search campaign MUST combine focused personal branding with pro-active networking to market your most valuable product...YOU! Personal Branding Trends for 2012, Part I & Personal Branding Trends for 2012, Part II

Resilience - a KEY Business & Life Skill

From Stressed out to Resilient. Using the MBTI Stress Management Report to identify stress triggers, stress reactions and engage strengths to build resilience!

FREE e-Book on How to Really Use Linkedin!!!

Linkedin is a must for professional networking, career development and a pro-active job search. Don't be intimidated by all the elements and features in a Linkedin profile. Start out slow and consistently build a winning profile to promote your brand and professional presence. Check out the FREE e-Book... How to Really Use Linkedin, 2nd Edition, by Jan Vermeiren and Bert Verdonck

Appearance on 11Alive (WXIA Atlanta): Making New Year's Resolutions

It was a pleasure to participate in a panel discussion on Making New Year's Resolutions at 11 Alive (WXIA-Atlanta). Whether you call them resolutions, intentions, goals, or commitments, be determined to embrace positive changes to enhance your life throughout the year. Resolve to make 2012 your best year yet!

Outstanding Strategies and Tools at CareerTipster!

I encourage you to check out the wealth of information, ideas and resources provided by career coach Robert Starks Jr. at CareerTipster. Thank you Robert for offering this amazing site.

Best~Great Places to Work...with Job Openings

From CNNMoney - These 25 Best Companies to Work For have at least 700 openings each, totaling nearly 137,000 available jobs. What are they looking for? See what their recruiters say.

Look for a new Professional Home by researching organizations that peak your interest using lists and directories. Career coaching can help you identify your career values - what you're looking for in the next better/best fit career role and organization. Check out these resources to jump start your career search:

1. 100 Best Companies to Work For, from CNNMoney
2. Best Places to Work in the Federal Government, by Bestlacestowork.org
3. Top 50 Best Places to Work, by GlassDoor.com
4. 2011 Best Small & Medium Workplaces List, from GreatPlacetoWork.com
5. 25 Best Multinationals List, from GreatPlacetoWork.com
6. Best Places to Work 2011, from the Human Rights Campaign
7. Atlanta's 2011 List of Best Small, Medium & Larges Places to Work, by The Atlanta Business Chronicle

CAREER & LIFE Inspiration from Steve Jobs...please Enjoy!

Timeless words of wisdom on LIFE & CAREER from Steve Jobs. Revisiting the commencement speech Mr. Jobs delivered to the graduating class at Stanford University in '05.

9/11 Remembered

How We've Changed - Stories of a Nation Transformed.

September 2011 marks the 10 year anniversary of 09/11/01. Yahoo News has compiled a wonderful collection of profiles on those who were lost and the loved ones who honor and celebrate the legacy of their friends and family members. These are inspiring stories of resilience, strength and growth!

Hidden Job Market .mov

Unlocking the Hidden Job Market: 6 Steps to a Successful Job Search When Times Are Tough. A ten minute highlights video of author, Duncan Mathison's talk about essential techniques to understand and win in the hidden job market.

I'm pleased to share a wonderful collection of 2011 TOP LISTS of CAREERS, courtesy of Heather Mundell from life@work. I hope this information inspires you to explore viable options for your career path or career transition. Remember to focus on how your strengths/skills, personality, interests, and values will fit a role, a team and an organization to identify better/best fit career opportunities.

Changing Careers

Baltic Publications (UK) publishes a wonderful e-magazine entitled CHANGING CAREERS, The information & opportunities magazine for career changers from all walks of life. You may register for a free account to access the magazine and view/download past and current editions. I hope you find the information beneficial to your career development.

Perhaps Now Is One of Those Times!

Enjoy a brief inspirational break, courtesy of David Ault. Is NOW one of those times to reflect, to act, to embrace change?

Jump Start your Job Search with Positivity

Author and Speaker Nan Russell offers a simple and inspired recipe to jump start your job search with positive, proactive steps in just 7 days. As Nan states, "Forward action, no matter how small, fuels motivation, builds energy, and ignites job search creativity. It enhances perseverance, and gets results."

I want my clients to consistently combat worry, fear, self doubt, and frustration by making a committment to take action each day to advance your strategy. Whether it's company research, networking, informational interviewing, professional development, volunteer work...the key is to act and manifest positive change.

Check out Nan's full article and take action TODAY: 7 Steps to Re-Start Your Job Search Momentum with Positive Actions

As a career coach who believes in a pro-active search, I whole heartedly agree with Ford Myers of Career Potential. He shares some crucial advice for individuals engaged in the job hunt.

"Many people make significant job search mistakes and never even know about it. These blunders are easy to make, and they can cost you the job offer or lose you thousands of dollars.
10 Mistakes job seekers make...and how to avoid them!"

In Search of the Purpose Driven Career

Eve Troeh of Marketplace tells us an all too familar stoy on the job search.

"With unemployment in the U.S. near 10 percent, many job seekers are settling for jobs that are lower paid and of lower status. But Eve Troeh reports that a better approach may be to keep your high standards in place, and to strive for purpose in a career." Read (or listen to) the whole story at Marketplace on NPR.

Money and Holiday Stress

I wanted to share some thought provoking information from Shawn Bakker at Pyschometrics Direct (a leading company for career and personality assessments).

Shawn...
The holiday season is fast approaching, and brings an extra level of busyness with school pageants, social gatherings, work parties and family get-togethers. Based on my own experience, and the stories that I hear from others, it is common to feel run off your feet.

Each year at this time we have presented a list of stress relieving activities. This year I have taken a slightly different tack, but believe it will take you to the same destination - a more enjoyable holiday experience. Below are two articles that discuss research about happiness; one is from the New York Times and the second is from Money Magazine. I found them interesting and insightful and I hope you do as well.

But Will It Make You Happy?

Can Money Buy Happiness?

And here are some wonderful tips on Holiday Stress Busters from Mercy College. Enjoy a happy and healthy holiday season...celebrating the blessings in your life.