Posted on

3 Things to “Bring to the Table”

Everything we do creates the bank of experiences that we bring to the table of our work environment or an interview for a job.  Those part time jobs as a kid help us to learn the kinds of things we enjoy and find satisfying or the things we do to have spending money and hope we never have to do them again in our lifetime.  That same concept goes for jobs during college and at times even into our adult lives.  It becomes even more apparent when a job market is as difficult as the one we are in now, but it will not last forever.  The up side is to understand that we can learn from these experiences and take them forward to the “Table”.

When you consider what you bring to the table, for an organization, company or firm, consider bringing these three:

Desire – What is your interest or passion for working with the organization?  What have you done in the past that would bring value to that company or firm?  What do you hope to gain through working with them?

Problem Solver – What is your problem solving style and how can that bring benefit to the organization?  How have you demonstrated that style in the past?

Positive Spirit – No one likes to work with negative individuals and there is a distinct difference between being a “devil’s advocate” on an issue and always being the “downer”.  How will your spirit or energy be perceived during an interview?  What does your body language say about the real you?

Reflecting on your Desire, Problem Solving and Positive Spirit can help you to evaluate what you bring to the table.  As interviews take on a more authentic process for screening candidates, it has become more important than ever that you spend time understanding what you have to offer and how that has been demonstrated in the past.

 

 

Posted on

Goals and New Year’s Resolutions

Do you remember what your New Year’s Resolution was for 2011?  Did you follow through to achievement or abandon it somewhere between February and June like 90+ percent of the population?

If you were successful with your Resolution, chances are you wrote it down and had a plan like we talked about last week with SMART goals.  If you were not successful, why not?  What derailed you in the process?

Resolutions are like Goals.  They are a personal commitment to self improvement.   But in order to be a successful Resolution, it must be relevant to you and it must have a well defined foundation.  That foundation creates a structural support system so that you can take action and successfully achieve your Resolution and celebrate your success!  What a great feeling to achieve something that you have identified as important for your self improvement.

Remember this; work SMARTer, not necessarily harder in the New Year!  If you need help writing a SMART goal or developing a plan to support that goal, contact me.  Good luck, Happy New Year, and may 2012 bring you great success!

Posted on

Writing Goals is SMART

Writing goals is smart.  In fact, when we commit goals to written form we increase the odds of achievement by about 94 percent.  Why do you think all of those diet companies have you sign a contract with specific goals and time lines?  A written format works.

So here is the formula for effective goals:

S – Your goal must be specific.

M – Your goal must be measurable.

A – Your goal must be attainable.  Notice I didn’t say easy, but it must be within reason.

R – Your goal must be relevant.  It must be important to you.

T – Your goal must be timely.  It has to be measurable within a given time frame.

That’s it.  SMART goals are that easy.  Write them down according to the formula.

What goals are you serious about for the coming year?   Serious enough to be SMART and commit them to paper?

Posted on

Change and the Fear Factor

I always laugh when people reference the old saying, “There are only two sure things in life, death and taxes.”  I laugh because I believe there is a third given, and that is Change.  The funny thing about Change is it can make people as uncomfortable as talking about death or taxes.  The “Fear Factor” of Change is remarkable.

Change occurs naturally.  Whether it occurs because of transitions in life like high school to college or college to the work force or because you get married, have children move to a bigger house, change happens.  Change happens when you get a new boss or maybe because you become the boss.  Whatever the reason, Change happens and when it does it can create Fear.  You see, it’s not because we don’t have the skills or abilities to enter into that new position or state of being, it is because it is the Unknown and as creatures of habit we get comfortable.  When we are pushed outside of our comfort zone and into the unknown realm of Change, we get nervous or even scared.

So how do you combat the fear factor of Change?  Set goals.  Write them down.  Create a plan.  Take action to achieve.  You see, committing a goal to paper creates a sense of accountability and empowerment.  It takes the fear of Change and refocuses on a purpose.

What action will you take to confront the fear factor of Change?  Need help?  Contact me.

Posted on

Three Goal Considerations

I’ve always been a goal driven individual.  Even as far back as being in the third grade I can remember wanting to be a teacher.  I played school in elementary, joined Future Teachers of America in high school and eventually got a bachelors degree in elementary and exceptional student education.  One goal led to the next and here I am today with a doctorate degree and life path that has opened more doors than I ever dreamed.  Goals work.

What goals have you set for yourself?  If you haven’t, here are three things to consider:

1. Goals give us a well defined purpose – “You need a plan to build a house.  To build a life, it is even more important to have a plan or goal.”  –  Zig Ziglar.

2. Goals foster our desire and keep us focused – “Each of us has a fire in our hearts for something.  It’s our goal in life to find it and to keep it lit.”  –  Mary Lou Retton

3. Goals provide a sense of achievement when accomplished – “Far and away the best prize that life offers is the chance to work hard at work worth doing.” – Theodore Roosevelt

What do you want to do?  What is your passion?  What is your plan to get there?  Need Help?  Click here to contact me.

Posted on

Addressing Trends of Need

Throughout the year I try to address topics that are pertinent to the trends of people with whom I work while addressing issues that I think are important in general to all who are looking at career decisions.  There are two comments and a question I want to address as we enter the week of Thanksgiving.

Comment #1 – Community Service is an important part of the “Total Student Package” that I talk about, but it is also an important part of our strength as a nation.  I want to say thank you to all of the students who are giving back to their communities through volunteer efforts at food banks, shelters, camps, food drives, community clean ups, or the multitude of other forms of community service.  Thank you as well to all who give back and address the needs of others.

Comment #2 – Thank you for the many ways in which you have supported my Blog and employed me to work with you or your student to define a college or career path.  I am honored to have the opportunity and grateful for your trust.

Question – In an effort to address your trend of needs as I plan the topics ahead in 2012, what questions do you have that you would like me to address through a blog? Click here to submit your questions.

Posted on

Creating Your Own Trend

Making good decisions begins with asking the right questions and gathering meaningful information.  That’s why I encourage people to pay attention to trends in jobs, careers and demographics.  That’s why it is important to start early and allow time for exploring possibilities.  It is also why I recommend that people who are looking at college educations, changing jobs, or re-entering the workforce evaluate their interests, values, passions and abilities.  All of these are measurable and can provide meaningful information in making decisions about career paths.  Paths that can create great satisfaction and reward.

In his book, GOOD TO GREAT, Jim Collins wrote, “Indeed the real question is not, “Why greatness?” but “What work makes you feel compelled to try to create greatness?”  If you have to ask the question, “Why should we try to make it great?  Isn’t success enough?” then you’re probably engaged in the wrong line of work.”

I believe that when the national statistics indicate that greater than 60% of the population dislikes their work, we have a national disaster on our hands.  How can we be great as a nation if we don’t individually feel compelled to create greatness in our own work?

On October 5, 2011 we lost an American Great.  Steve Jobs will forever be known for his impact on the world of personal computing.  He was passionate about his work, and I believe, “compelled to try to create greatness.”

What will you do today that compels you to create greatness?  How can you establish your own trend that creates a meaningful career path?  Need help?  Contact me.

Posted on

It’s Never Too Early

Getting prepared for college is a natural progression when you are in high school, but what about middle school?  I get the question all the time, “When is a good time to start preparing for college?”  My answer is always, “Right now.”

As a school principal, my kindergarten teachers were already starting the kids on career exploration.  Every year when the fire engine came and the crew would talk to the children about the role of the fireman and allow them to explore the truck, they planted the seeds of career awareness.  When Victoria’s dad would come and present a cooking demonstration to the 4th grade class as a chef from the Culinary Institute, he planted the seeds of career awareness.  And when Junior Achievement came and presented to the sixth grade students about banking, finance and investments, they planted the seeds of career awareness.

The timeline of preparing for college actually begins long before most people are ever aware of the impact.  It is only when the senior year is staring them square in the face and the realization of making a decision is looming that they bring it forward in their conscious thought processes.  But by then, many opportunities have already slipped by them.  Grades may not be high enough, perhaps the rigor of the courses wasn’t as strong as it could have been, or the involvement in community service was minimal in comparison to the other students submitting the same applications. Middle school does count!  For some students, their grades at the end of 8th grade establish their eligibility to play 1st semester in high school.  The level of courses you take in 8th grade will create a pattern for your next four years.  Are they challenging enough for you to match the goals you have when you think about universities and career paths?

The earlier you bring the awareness into conscious thought, the better.  It is not that you have to wake up each day as a middle school student and say, “What am I doing for college today?”   Rather, family dinner conversations can take on some career oriented topics.  The employment rate that got posted today, a class at school that is a favorite and why, a family trip that is coming up and all of the occupations that you will encounter on that excursion are excellent family dinner topics.  The more exposure to career options and exploration a child can have in formative years, the more prepared they will be to make decisions about their own career path.  The more discussions you have as a family about the importance of setting goals and challenging one’s self, the better.

It’s never too early to start planting the seeds and cultivating a remarkable harvest, that career path that provides a lifetime of joy, satisfaction and reward.

Posted on

Keep It Current

There is nothing worse than sitting down after four years and trying to reconstruct the work you’ve done, courses you’ve taken and awards received in order to write or bring your resume’ up to date.  So the 3 most important words are Keep It Current.  Consider your resume or profile as a “work in progress” and keep it updated regularly.  Have you added:

  • Courses or Special Classes for Training
  • Conferences (as an Attendee or Presenter)
  • Athletic Showcases or Camps
  • Publications
  • Scores on National Exams or GPA

Students, employees, employers and stay-at-home parents who may one day re-enter the workforce all need to pay attention to their profile or resume’ and keep it current.   In addition to keeping it current, be sure that the presentation of material highlights the most current or relevant information for the position you are targeting.  If you were hiring you, what would catch your attention?

Professional Development has been the topic for the month.  Before leaving the topic, make it a point to update your information this week.  Make sure your own efforts to invest in yourself are well reflected in your presentation materials to others.

Posted on

Professional Development for High School Students

In the adult world of work we frequently talk about professional development and the associated costs, benefits or requirements for some professions.  However, I don’t think I have ever heard anyone reference high school students who prepare for college as undergoing professional development.  But that is exactly what it is!  There are costs associated and benefits to be had through professional preparation for college.

On the academic side, PSAT/SAT/ACT prep courses are all a form of professional development.  Parents invest significant dollars in order for their son or daughter to increase their score potential.  The investment is not a guarantee, but it enhances the probability.  So it is important to plan wisely and get the biggest bang for your buck.

Create a calendar that targets test dates and work backward.  Identify the necessary enrollment date and get registered on time to avoid late fees or missed application dates for colleges.  Using these dates, work backward again and identify the necessary time frame to participate in a prep course or private tutoring so that you have time to take practice tests and target areas needing improvement. That’s how to get the biggest bang for the buck!

High school athletes also invest in professional development when they employ specialized coaches for sport-specific technique or great recruiting advisement through companies like The College Sports Track or Educated Recruit.

The world of work has changed radically over the last 5 years and it is more important than ever that everyone look at ways in which they can enhance their own marketability.  In order to do that, adults, college students and high school students need to look at professional development with a new perspective.  How can you invest in yourself, your loved ones or your employees to enhance marketability or job performance?  Need help? Click here to contact me for more information regarding professional development.