Dale Kurow Executive Coach
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Career Essentials Newsletter June 2005 - Get a Grip on Your Job Search

[Career Essentials] Newsletter June 2005 - Get a Grip on Your Job Search

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CAREER ESSENTIALS


An e-mail newsletter designed to transform the way you think about your career… and to help you face Mondays with a smile!
by Dale Kurow, M.S., Career & Executive Coach

Welcome

Welcome, new subscribers and loyal readers!

Last month I fulfilled a yearning. We returned to Italy! Ever since going to Florence, Tuscany and the Cinque Terre 7 years ago, I’ve been fantasizing about going back. This trip took us to Milan, Venice and the Lake country - Lake Como, Lake Lugano, and Lake Maggiore.

The beauty of Italy, its hillside towns, the snow-covered Alps and the friendliness of the people all made for a memorable journey. Here are a couple of photos from our trip, one in St. Mark’s Square in Venice (we are very happy people indeed) and another on Isola Bella.

Back to the real world (sigh)!
Is your job search plan stalling? Read on for tips on how to keep focused and enjoy the process while still moving forward.

Wishing you a wonderful start to Summer!

To Your Success,

Get a Grip on Your Job Search

Does your job search feel like a big weight on your shoulders?

Are you confused about what you should do next?

Do you have starts and stops in your search activities?

Are you beating yourself up because you haven’t done enough?

Okay, first things first.

Conducting a job search can be overwhelming under the best of circumstances.

Add to that a full time job, kids and/or other pressing responsibilities, and it gets even trickier.

And the higher you are on the food chain, the longer it takes to find your next position.

On top of all those pressures, are you making things worse by what you’re telling yourself?

Clients beat themselves up because they don’t feel up to the task.

There’s too much information and they don’t know where to start, so they do little and then give up.

Or they berate themselves because they haven’t done “enough.” Time for a reality check!

Here are some tips to keep it real:

  • Set realistic standards and expectations. If you have locked-in time commitments (full-time job, kids, etc.), you need to be extra careful in planning your activities. Set weekly goals that you can comfortably meet. Under-promise and then, if you do more, you’ll be happy with your progress.

  • Learn to wait gracefully. Do you want it all now? Ahhh, if only. . . Deal with your impatience! The older I get, the more I realize the importance of being patient. Nothing happens overnight. All those folks who made it big spent years building, waiting and never giving up. Allow your career plan the time it needs to unfold.

  • Have a plan. Before you take step one, what are your career goals? A new job? Positioning yourself for promotion? What’s your timetable? I can’t stress enough the importance of a written plan. That way you’ll see the steps you need to take, can check off your accomplishments, and keep track of your progress. Remember to celebrate your wins.

  • Don’t put the cart before the horse. Can you compellingly and succinctly describe what you want? Don’t expect people (recruiters, your networking contacts, friends, etc.) to connect the dots. Until you can easily articulate the kind of job you want and what you’d like to be doing, networking will be a wasted opportunity.

  • Write a resume only after you are clear about your job goals. I get calls from prospective clients saying, “I need a new resume.” After a few minutes of conversation, they admit they’re unsure of their next career move. They expect a new resume to replace the pre-work they haven’t done. Your resume should reflect your carefully thought out career objective.

  • Find a committed listener and have them hold you accountable. You will accomplish more and feel better if you have a trusted friend to talk to on a consistent basis. This person can be a sounding board and can give you support when you hit a speed bump.

Check the recommended reading list below for excellent books on this topic.

We spend our lives trying to reach our goals. Yet, the time we actually spend reveling in our achievement is minimal. Aren’t you always thinking about the next thing you want? By accepting that your job search is a process that happens over time, you give yourself permission to relax and enjoy what’s in front of you today.

Recommended Reading:

The Power of Now : A Guide to Spiritual Enlightenment
What Color Is Your Parachute? 2005: A Practical Manual for Job-Hunters and Career-Changers
Dare to Change Your Job and Your Life

Author: Dale R. Kurow, M.S.

Dale Kurow is a career and executive coach who helps individuals find success and personal enrichment at their vocations and who works with corporations to maximize the potential of valuable employees.

Contact Dale by e-mail
dale@dalekurow.com
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