Career E-News: July 2012 

Monthly Newsletter for Executives, Managers, and Professionals in Career Transition / Written and Published by Joellyn Wittenstein Schwerdlin, The Career Success Coach

In this issue:
Career Directors International 2012 Global Hiring Trends Survey
Know Your Top Transferable Skill Sets, Then Plan Your Career Transition
Beta Launch of "Wake Up to a Job You Love ©" is Coming Soon
Career Action Planning (CAP) Session
Quote of the Month: On "Attitude"
Quick Links...

Visit my blog


View my profile on LinkedIn

Follow me on Twitter
Greetings!                              Joellyn Headshot 2009 
 

Hope you're enjoying the summer and that it hasn't been too hot in your part of the world. My husband and I are preparing for our annual summer vacation: a week-long trip to Chicago, starting next Tuesday, which includes a birthday party for our granddaughter Rylee, who will be two years old. We're really looking forward to this event and spending quality time with our children, extended family, and our grandsons Maverick and Lucas. 

   

This month, I've seen some positive news about the U.S. Labor Market: A Bloomberg News article reported that "Applications for jobless benefits decreased by 26,000 in the week ended July 7 to 350,000, the fewest since March 2008..." An Associated Press article stated that "Job openings [in May] rose to a seasonally adjusted 3.6 million, the Labor Department said Tuesday. That's up from 3.4 million in April. It's also the second-highest level in nearly four years, just behind March's 3.7 million." Hopefully, this means that a hiring surge will be on the horizon very soon!
  

If you're stumped about the multitude of resume "do's" and "don'ts," you can relax! Career Directors International (CDI), an association I'm proud to be a member of, conducted a 2012 Global Hiring Trends Survey which reveals what hiring authorities want most from the resumes they receive. Scroll down for more information and to get a copy of the full report.

 

My core article for this month is: "Know Your Top Transferable Skill Sets, Then Plan Your Career Transition." This is the first in a series of articles, which sets the tone for the upcoming beta launch of my online coaching program: "Wake Up to a Job You Love ©."The essence of this program is also about waking up to yourself...who you are, professionally, what your strengths and talents are, and how your top transferable skill sets form a solid foundation for a successful career transition campaign.

  

Is your job search stuck and your career stalled? A Career Action Planning (CAP) Session will get to the root of your career problem and get you on the road to landing your dream job in record time!  Be sure to read the testimonial of one client who landed soon after his CAP Session.  

Enjoy this issue and I look forward to connecting soon! 

 

~ Joellyn  
CDICareer Directors International (CDI) 2012 Global Hiring Trends Survey

CDI 2012 Survey The 2012 Global Hiring Trends Survey results from Career Directors International (CDI) provides much-needed answers to questions that frustrate most jobseekers. Rest assured, the findings are based on solid data, not hearsay.  

 

The survey sought responses from hiring authorities, including HR professionals, recruiters, sourcers and employers to really find out what they wanted from the resumes they've received. The survey covered topics such as resume length, resume content, use of cover letters, optimizing resumes for smart phone reading, and adoption rates of new resume techniques, such as charts, graphs, video resumes and QR codes. Click here to download the full report:

  
TTSSKnow Your Top Transferable Skill Sets, Then Plan Your Career Transition 

 

When beginning a career transition, many people work     backwards. They rush to have a resume written as a first step; then, they jump into a job search, without really knowing what their most saleable skill sets are and how to position them for their career direction. This strategy is like putting the proverbial "cart before the horse."

 

In my coaching practice, I've come across countless people using this backwards approach, who become quickly discouraged when they don't get enough interviews in proportion to the resumes they send out. But I've also observed that people who get the most interviews and right-fit job offers took a step back to first uncover their top transferable skill sets to gain clarity about their career direction; then planned their career transition accordingly.

 

So, what exactly are transferable skills? My definition is: abilities, knowledge, strengths and talents you've developed through work, education and even hobbies, which can be used in future employment. Transferable skills can be industry-specific "hard skills" like operating a forklift or using object-oriented computer programming languages, or "soft skills" such as analytical abilities, interpersonal communication skills, and being a good team player.

 

Some transferable skills can be more portable than others,

even if you decide to change careers. For example, therapists can work with clients in agency settings. But if they are looking for a new career, they may consider working in a customer service environment, where they can still use their listening skills and compassionate nature.  

 

It's critical to know which transferable skills fire you up - and those that can burn you out. For instance, you may have good writing skills, but would become exhausted and drained if you were writing for eight hours per day. On the other hand, perhaps you enjoy training others and doing this more in your workday would energize you.

 

The idea is to pursue jobs where you can use the skills you're good at and enjoy the most. In these jobs, you'll "fire at all cylinders" and perform to the best of your ability. Even in the interview phase, you'll project more enthusiasm, instead of being perceived as an ordinary jobseeker looking for a paycheck.

 

So, how can you figure out what your top transferable skill sets are? You can take an online self-assessment to gain some insights. One that I highly recommend and that I'm certified to administer is the SkillScan Career Driver.  

 

You can also opt for "Success Factor Analysis" - an organic process I use with private clients where we analyze 10-15 of their proudest career achievements; then we distill them down into 3-8 "Key Success Factors," which is simply a synonym for top transferable skill sets.

  

Whichever method you use to identify your top transferable skill sets, they will provide a solid foundation for your career transition campaign and will help you:  

 

1. Feel more confident about what you can offer prospective employers;

2. Get clear about your most perfect career path and work you love;

3. Create compelling core content for resumes, cover letters and social networking profiles;

4. Feel more at ease when presenting your value to your network and potential employers;

5. Take control of interviews, salary negotiations and job offers.

 

(Side note: Both the SkillScan Career Driver and Success Factor Analysis tool will be available via self-study, in my upcoming program: "Wake Up to a Job You Love ©." )

 

Your top transferable skill sets hold the key to a successful career transition. When you know what those skills are and focus on career opportunities where you can capitalize on them, you'll confidently move forward to a job you love, instead of back-pedaling in frustration.

 

Like this article? Please post your comments on my blog.

 

© 2012 Joellyn Wittenstein Schwerdlin, The Career Success Coach. All Rights Reserved.

BETABeta Launch of "Wake Up to a Job You Love ©" is Coming Soon! 

 

I'm excited to announce the upcoming beta-launch of "Wake to a Job You Love ©." This program is an online, self-study, self-paced version of the tools and materials I use with my private clients, to help them get clear about their most perfect career path and land jobs they love. Download the full description here:  

 

This beta launch, currently scheduled for October 2012, is designed for only 10 participants. It will also be priced at a fraction of the cost to work with me privately, as well as deeply discounted from the fully-launched version.

 

This program is starting to fill up and consideration for available spots will be given on a first-come, first-served basis. If you are interested in taking advantage of this offer, please send an email to: joellyn@career-success-coach.com, with "Beta Launch" in the memo and I'll send you an application.

CAPCareer Action Planning (CAP) Session 
  • question mark jpegDo you work hard on your job search but seem to get nowhere fast?
  • Are you burned out with your job, but don't know what other work might satisfy you?  
  • Do you have trouble understanding how your transferrable skills can be used in other professions?
  • Do you apply for jobs online, only to get "thanks but no thanks" responses?
  • Does it seem like your network can't help you with your job search the way you'd like?
  • Do you get interviews--- but no offers?   

Is it time to take a risk -- a giant step forward -- to end the pain once and for all? You may surprised: the problem might not be what you think and simpler to overcome than you thought possible.

 

Regardless of the issues you face or what you may be frustrated or confused about, I can provide the clarity, creative thinking, objectivity, and perspective you need to get your career and job search moving in the right direction.  

 

Let's get started with a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session to help you figure out what's working, what needs attention, and what the next steps are to land the job of your dreams!  

 

LOUSkeptical? Here's what one client said about his experience. He got hired five months after his CAP Session!  

 

"I worked with Joellyn and went through her Career Action Planning session after months and months spinning my wheels trying to land a position. Her session and follow ups were a great jump start for me in redesigning my resume. She helped me focus on what my strengths were and was encouraging and genuine. She's extremely personable and is a great listener. I'd recommend her to anyone who is struggling finding their next steps in their career path."  -- Louis Miano, Sr. Software Developer 

 

 Go to my website for details and pricing:  

About "The Career Success Coach" 

 

Joellyn Wittenstein Schwerdlin is a Certified Career Management Coach in private practice serving executives, managers and professionals in career transition. Since 1991, Joellyn has helped countless clients across multiple industry sectors find perfect career paths which are fun, fulfilling and financially-rewarding. Her  program starts with a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session to first determine where clients are getting stuck, stalled or confused in landing the job of their dreams.  

 

Joellyn will be happy to discuss your situation on a free call. Contact her at 508-459-2854, joellyn@career-success-coach.com 

or visit www.career-success-coach.com

Quote of the Month: On "Attitude"

 

"If you don't like something, change it.

If you can't change it, change your attitude."

 

-- Maya Angelou 

© 2012 The Career Success Coach   All rights reserved.