Check out the Career Videos at WSJ.com

The Wall Street Journal Online offers a nice collection of free career coaching videos on key topics of interest!

http://online.wsj.com/video-center/careers.html

It's Time to Invest!

Maybe you have recently been downsized from your company - or you're worried about the next round of lay offs - or you're thinking it's time for a change. Now is a great time to invest in something that has the potential to pay dividends for years to come. Look it up, the ticker symbol to use is (InsertYourNameHere)! Make a committment to yourself to do something this month/this week, as a solid investment in your career.

What development activites have you participated in lately (and the grumbling begins across cyberspace)? I pose this question to my clients each and every week because I truly believe it is a damn good question. The opportunities are all around us in the form of for-credit college classes (classroom & online), continuing education classes, seminars, workshops, conferences, webinars, teleclasses, audio books...and the list goes on. But time and time again I hear the excuses...My company won't pay for that. Money is tight right now. I don't have the time. Seminars are boring.

If your company won't pay to send you to a class or seminar, here's an idea...pay for it yourself and consider it a great investment. But pick an activity that you are truly interested in and one that has received rave reviews from past participants. It seems that we still have the time and funds for premium TV channels, NetFlix, an upgrade to an iPhone, gourmet coffee, the salon, gym memberships...blah, blah, blah. Here's the reality check people - the way to compete for good jobs at good companies is to demonstrate that your knowledge and skills are current and you can bring new thinking, creativity and results to an organization. Now if you haven't taken a class since receiving that college degree 5, 7, 10 or more years ago...good luck with that approach. And if the last seminar you attended was "Tips for Debugging Windows ME", I suggest you avoid the topic of professional development at your next interview.

My point is this...skip the gourmet coffee, movie theatre or dining out for a month or two, or maybe even cancel HBO for the time being, and use that money to attend a class or a few targeted seminars. Look to professional associations, the continuing ed divison of local colleges, http://www.findaseminar.com/ to target and engage in learning that will peak your interest and give you latest and greatest info for your career.

Set yourself up for success by investing in the skills and knowledge you need to land a better fit, hopefully best fit career position.

Rethink Career & Job Fairs

Have you ever attended a job fair? Whether they are organized as a Job Fair, Career Fair, Career Expo or Career Event, etc., they CAN be worth your effort. Please don't dismiss them as cattle calls. There are some excellent events out there, events that not only truly focus on providing exposure to quality employers, but also on providing on the spot career coaching. The key to participating in fairs is to identify events that will provide you will access to qualified leads with motivated employers seeking new talent. And do your homework to identify specialty events that target specific industries/markets (Bio, MBA, Healthcare, Technology, Green, etc.).

Now don't let the term fair confuse you. You won't be eating cotton candy and riding the tilt-a-whirl...although some days of a job search may feel like you're spinning in circles or on the bumper cars. Remember to dress for success, bring copies of a polished resume and references and be prepared to enthusiasticaly market your skills, strengths and achievements. And no matter how long the day is and how long the lines are, keep smiling and project a professional, winning image. An added bonus - events that are organized by top career related firms, like Women For Hire, offer you real time access to career pros offering resume critiques and interviewing tips.

Check it out: the Women For Hire Career Expo scheduled for the Atlanta market, on 03/31/09 at Cobb Galleria. And it's not just for women - men are also encouraged to attend! I hope to see you there - join me for my presentation on Career Transition Strategies.

Here are links for other quality career events for the Atlanta Market:

CareerEco's Green Career Forum 03/26/09

MetroAtlantaJobs.com Listing of Career Fairs

Still on Target: Let's ReVISIT ~ ReFOCUS on Some Excellent Advice from '08

Check out this SlideShare Presentation: Take a few minutes to review these SIX fundamental Career Lessons from Dan Pink's book, "Johnny Bunko-The Last Career Guide You'll Ever Need". It's a fun approach to a serious topic. And while this will probably NOT be the last career guide you will ever need (that comment was in my Career Coach voice) I think it helps to get back to basics! Enjoy

Career Advice '08

View more presentations from garr. (tags: career advice)

Yes...You Should Have a Linkedin Account!

If you're already using Linkedin, great! Now continue to fine tune your content and expand your network. If you don't have a Linkedin account, create one TODAY! Here are some of the PROS associated with building a presence on Linkedin:

1. The basic account is free and comes with a broad scope of features (widgets) to add interesting content areas to your account.
2. Your Linkedin account can serve as your web resume, so don't pay hundreds, even thousands, of dollars to have a web resume or web portfolio created.
3. You can customize the web link (also known as a vanity URL) for your Linkedin account, such as http://www.linkedin.com/in/johnelong, and then list this URL on your resume, business card, professional networking sites. When you don't have a resume to hand out, you can refer people to your URL.
4. By growing your professional network on Linkedin, you create opportunities for future networking, the exchange of ideas with colleagues, expanding skills and knowledge, informational interviews, collecting the inside scoop on companies of interest, job prospects, etc.
5. A growing number of recruiters and executive search consultants use Linkedin as a candidate prospecting tool. A Linkedin account can put you in front of these recruiters.
6. The SimplyHired metasearch tool is embedded into your Linkedin account. So you can search job postings from multiple job boards with one click.
7. Answer questions from Linkedin users to promote your subject matter expertise, which can improve your credibility within your industry.

The CONS to a Linkedin presence may be that it will take time, effort and creativity to maintain a strong account. And don't confuse Linkedin with social networking sites like Facebook and MySpace - make sure the content on your account supports a professional image.

Create a Linkedin account right now and incorporate it into your ongoing career development strategy!

Recent News on Job Search & Career Transition

These articles have some great advice (and action steps) surrounding the JOB SEARCH process and on mapping out a CAREER TRANSITION! Check them out at:

Job Search Strategies in Volatile Times – from Job-Hunt.org

Tool up for Mid Career Job Hunt – from the Wall Street Journal Online

6 Tips on Planning a Second Career – From US News & World Report

And remember you don't have to go it alone. If you believe you would benefit from some objective feedback and targeted input available from a career professional, contact a career coach TODAY!

Embracing Positive Change for 2009

Are you looking to make some positive changes in your life for 2009? A desire for change will remain on your Wish list or your To Do list until the day that you make a commitment to yourself to take action. We often become paralyzed by the fear, uncertainty, anxiety, or self-doubt that can accompany change. Or, as a result of living in an I Want it Now society, we become impatient and frustrated if we do not see immediate results.

As a coach, I believe that it is best to approach positive change with a strong plan of attack. So let me offer 10 simple yet powerful ideas to help you create your action plan for 2009.

1. Set goals that are both realistic and achievable. Set yourself up for success. For example, start with a morning walk around your neighborhood for a week or two rather than immediately trying to jog five miles.
2. Attack one or two goals at any given time. Change can be a good thing but too much change at one time can create chaos.
3. Envision your plan as stepping stones over a stream rather than one giant leap across a river.
4. Celebrate sucess! As you reach each new step in your plan (no matter how small it may seem), MAKE the time to celebrate the effort that you put forth to get that much closer to your goal. Rather than rushing forward, STOP and savor the building blocks of success.
5. Create a support system. Surround yourself with people that will support your goals, that you find motivating and who will serve as your personal cheerleaders.
6. Surround yourself with snippets and images that represent the steps in your plan and the successful attainment of your goal. Cut out pictures and phrases from magazines, etc. You can then create a collage on a Vision Board or place items around your home and office for inspiration and encouragement. If you consistently remind yourself that success is within reach, you can capture it!
7. There will be bumps (maybe even a few pot holes) in the road as you travel your new path. DO NOT punish yourself when you experience a bad day or a setback. Assess the situation, adapt and press forward with hightened determination.
8. Ask for help. If you feel you would benefit from a mentor, a coach, a trainer, a counselor, etc., then seek out that person who can provide motivation and guidance.
9. You can't finish what you don't start. Don't allow yourself to be trapped in the planning process. Remember that you will be re-assessing and adapting your plan as you move forward.
10. Do the work and maintain accountability. Remember that this is your goal and your action plan. You can wait to stumble upon that genie in the bottle who will grant your wishes...OR you can make a committment to invest the necessary time, energy and resources to reach your goal.

The new year is a great time to embrace positive change. So focus on your goal, define your plan of action, arrange your stepping stones and celebrate daily success.

My best wishes for a new year rich in possibilities!