Career E-News: November 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:
Cool Tool for Tracking Job Search Details
How To Choose The Ideal Work That Fits Your Personality
Coming soon: Beta Launch of Online Self-Study Coaching Program
Career Action Planning (C.A.P.) Session
Quote of the Month: On "Taking Risks"
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Greetings!                              Joellyn Headshot 2009   

 

November is upon us following Hurricane Sandy, which swept across the East Coast and parts of Massachusetts. Thankfully, we never lost power or other utilities; but this was not the case in other areas of Worcester and Massachusetts; and we all know that certain areas of New York and New Jersey have been seriously affected. I sincerely pray that all who suffered damage from Sandy will recover soon, with the help of the American Red Cross, and other state and federal agencies.  

 

On a more positive note, The U.S. Labor market appears to be on the upswing: According to a USA Today article: 171,000 jobs were added in October; then, August totals were revised up from 142,000 to 192,000; and September: 114,000 to 148,000. Apparently, these figures were tallied before Hurricane Sandy struck. Like I said last month, let's hope the momentum continues!     

 

Managing your job search data, like networking contacts and job applications, can be a daunting task. This is why my colleague Jason Alba (Author of I'm on Linked In - Now What???) created JibberJobber Career Management 2.0: an online tool where you can track and organize everything, to avoid losing out on important opportunities. Scroll down to learn more about JibberJobber and for a link to one of Jason's recent blog posts, summarizing his view on career management and the presidential election outcome.  

 

This month, my featured article is: "How to Choose the Ideal Work that Fits Your Personality"-- the fourth in my articles series, introducing the upcoming beta launch of "Wake Up to a Job You Love �" (online, self-study career coaching program). The first article focused on how your top transferable skill sets form the foundation for your career transition; the second helped you back these skills with "Reality Stories"  to build your confidence and career marketing content; and the third one explained how knowing your hardwired preferences can help point you to career paths which are the best fit for your top transferable skill sets.   

   

Is your job search stuck and your career stalled? A Career Action Planning (C.A.P.) Session will get to the root of your career problem and get you on the road to landing your dream job in record time! Read the testimonial of one client who landed soon after his C.A.P. Session; and the quick story about another client I highlighted in last month's issue, who had his C.A.P. Session in July and landed in September.  

Enjoy this issue and I look forward to connecting soon! Happy Thanksgiving to you and your families! 

 

~ Joellyn 
 
P.S. A great big "Welcome" to my new subscribers!  
JibJobCool Tool for Tracking Job Search Details: Jibber Jobber Career Management 2.0   

Jibber Jobber

Jason Alba (author of I'm on LinkedIn - Now What???) developed JibberJobber during his own frustrating job search, when he found that the spreadsheet he was using to track opportunities was ineffective. He discovered that key information was slipping between the cracks, because of the increasingly complex relationships between the multiple people, companies, job applications he was tracking. 

 

So, he created JibberJobber: a powerful tool that has helped countless professionals manage their careers, from job search to relationship management to target company management -- and much more! JibberJobber is fr*ee for life with an optional upgrade.   

Read one of Jason's insightful blog posts, where he emphasizes the importance of taking charge of your career, regardless of the presidential election outcome.

KTSIIHow To Choose The Ideal Work That Fits Your Personality, using the Kiersey Temperament Sorter II Stories 

Kiersey Temperament II

 

Personality assessments provide you with a deep understanding of yourself, which can help in choosing your ideal work. The assessment I use with my clients is the Kiersey Temperament Sorter-II, the most economical and accessible online assessment of its kind. Kiersey classifies four temperaments of  Rational, Guardian, Idealist and Artisan, each with four distinct personality types, totaling 16 potential types. 

 

The Kiersey Temperament Sorter-II identifies your type by detecting your behavioral preferences, which are stronger or weaker in four dimensions: Extroversion/Introversion, Sensing/Intuitive, Thinking/Feeling and Judging/Perceiving. (Side note: Kiersey types can be linked to Myers-Briggs types: the foundation and research behind each is interrelated.) 

 

These four dimensions are described below. When you read through them, you'll discover the one in each pair which resonates more for you in work and life situations:

 

1) How you focus your attention

* E = Extroversion (Expressive): Gregarious and communicative; more comfortable socializing with groups than being alone; energized by contact with other people.

* I = Introversion (Attentive): Private and reserved; more comfortable alone than in a crowd; energized from solo activities, like reading or working on your latest project.  

  

2) How you take in information 

* S = Sensing (Observant): Alert to what's going on outside yourself, in the world of concrete things accessed through the five senses of sight, taste, touch, smell and sound.

* N= Intuitive (Introspective): Alert to what's going on inside yourself in the abstract world of ideas beyond the five senses. 

 

3) How you make decisions 

* T = Thinking (Tough-Minded): Comfortable basing your actions on impersonal, objective factors; critical and exacting with yourself and others, convinced by hard data and sound reasoning.

* F = Feeling (Friendly): Comfortable basing your actions on emotional factors; consider others' feelings first and focus on harmony above goals. 


How you direct your life

J= Judging (Scheduled): Live in a planned, structured way, seeking to regulate/control life; prefer to have everything decided and settled.

* P = Perceiving (Probing): Live in a flexible, spontaneous way, seeking to understand and adapt to life; prefer to have things open-ended, with options.

You can take the Kiersey Temperament Sorter-II for fr*ee, which gives you a one-page Temperament Mini Report™ about your unique type. There are small fees for the full Classic Temperament Report™, The Career Temperament Report™ and other products. 

 

You'll be scored in all four dimensions by 10 points split between each pair, depending on how you answer questions favoring one preference over another. In my full report, you'll see that I'm an INFJ (Idealist-Counselor): E:2 / I:8 | S:2 / N:8 | T:5 / F:5 | P:4 / J:6. Note: If there's a tie between each pair, your letter will be the second of the two. 

 

So, what does all of this mean when choosing an ideal career? Here are some basic examples: If your type has an "I," you'll enjoy a solo-work job, like computer programming or writing; but if you have an "E," a job without much people contact will make you stir-crazy. If your type has a "T" and you're a manager, you probably won't flinch in reprimanding employees; but if you have an "F," you'll feel uncomfortable doing this, so managing other people may not be ideal work for you. 

 

Self-knowledge is power in the quest to find your ideal work. When you take the  Kiersey Temperament Sorter II and learn about your unique personality type, you'll have some good information to help you make wise job and career choices. 

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

 � Joellyn Wittenstein Schwerdlin, The Career Success Coach 2012
 

 

BETABeta Launch of Online, Self-Study Career Coaching Program is Coming Soon! 

 

I've been planning a beta launch of an online, self-study version of my career coaching program, entitled: "Wake Up to a Job You Love."� from the core materials I use with my private clients. This program may include monthly Q & A group calls and a forum for participants to post questions to me and have an opportunity interact with each other. Download the one-sheet description here:

 

This beta launch, which has been rescheduled for the first quarter of 2013, 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.

 

I expect this program to fill up quickly and consideration 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: [email protected], with "Beta Launch" in the memo and I'll send you an application. (Side note: if you've already expressed interest or submitted an application, I'll keep you posted as things progress with this program.)

CAPCareer Action Planning (C.A.P.) 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 transferable 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 (C.A.P.) 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 C.A.P. 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, [email protected] 

or visit www.career-success-coach.com

Quote of the Month: On "Happiness"

  

"People are about as happy as they make up their minds to be." 

-- Abraham Lincoln

� 2012 The Career Success Coach   All rights reserved.