Greetings!                                 

Do you want to be among the lucky people who land this year? Join me and other top experts in a free, online event-- which started earlier today, Feb 19, and runs through Feb 22 -- as we reveal little known strategies, tactics and top tips for getting noticed, getting interviews and landing a good job in this economy...in spite of hundreds of candidates with better credentials who are competing for the same jobs as you are. You should have received a special email from me last Thursday about this event; otherwise, scroll down for more information and to register.  

Hopefully, you've been following my article series, introducing the core content of my soon-to-be-launched  "Wake Up to a Job You Love ©  Home Study System."  Last month, I explained how the first four articles are all part of the "The Six Dimensions of Career Clarity" I use with clients, to help them sketch out what their most ideal career position looks like before beginning their job search. Basically, this is a "six groups of questions strategy" where the main questions start with: "1) What; 

2) How; 3) Where; 4) Which; 5) Why; and 6) Who." 

The first and second articles focused on Dimension #1: "What" skills you can build your career on. The third and fourth centered on Dimension #2: "How" career and personality assessments can help you make good career choices. This month, my core article addresses Dimension #3: "Where Do You Want to Work? How to Make a List of Target Companies".          

When you get clear in all six of these dimensions, you'll bring more confidence, enthusiasm, focus and traction to your career transition campaign, ultimately leading to: landing a right-fit job you love much faster; becoming happier in the job you already have; or even transferring to a position better suited for your needs inside your current employer.      

Is your job search stuck and your career stalled, no matter how hard you try? Start the New Year with a private Career Action Planning (C.A.P.) Session with me. We'll 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 the October 2012 issue, who had a C.A.P. Session last July and landed in September.  

When searching for your next job, you're probably focusing your efforts on postings you see online or opportunities pitched by recruiters who find your resume on LinkedIn or major job boards like CareerBuilder or Monster. However, you can be more proactive and broaden your employment possibilities by creating your own target list of 50-100 companies.

Before making this list, consider these important questions:  

• What types of positions are you suited for? Where have you gained most of your work experiences and cultivated your knowledge?
• Which industries will get the most value from your skill set?
• What industries, companies and products match your personal interests and passions?
• Where are you willing to work, in terms of preferred cities and states?
• What size of company do you want to work for, i.e., a large corporation, smaller privately-held company, mid-sized firm or start-up?
• Which companies would be on your "dream employer" list?

Here are some free resources that will help you find target companies:

1. America's Career InfoNet Employer Locator: This comprehensive database, offered by CareerOneStop.org, is searchable by industry, occupation, location, and keyword:  

http://www.acinet.org/acinet/employerlocator/employerlocator.asp?nodeid=18

 2. ReferenceUSA.com: This resource is available in most libraries, which allows you to access it from home using your library card and PIN number. Companies can be searched by name, industry, region, sales volume and other specific criteria: http://www.referenceusa.com 

3. Inc. 5000: This is a list of the fastest-growing privately-held companies in the U.S. Considering that large corporations are usually the first to have massive layoffs in troubled economic times, these smaller, privately-held companies will allow you to be a bigger fish in a smaller pond. http://www.inc.com/inc5000/list/2012

4. Regional business journals: These often overlooked publications provide a wealth of information about what's new in companies within your local area, which will expand your scope of employers beyond what you've seen on job boards. To find a regional business journal in your area, check out:  http://newslink.org/biznews.html. (Side note: There's usually an annual fee for print publication subscriptions, which may include bonuses such as books of company lists, economic forecasts and business profiles; but many offer free, abridged online versions.)

5. LinkedIn: Scan through your LinkedIn contacts to see where they are employed and where they previously worked. You'll get more ideas for target companies, while setting a foundation for future networking. If certain companies appeal to you, add them to your list. Then, consider reaching out to your contacts for "referral meetings" (or informational interviews) to get a "feel" for what it's like to work in those companies, as well as for possible connections to hiring managers.

When you have your list together, you can also use it to create targeted direct mail campaigns or make outreach calls to hiring managers. One of my CPA clients compiled a list of small accounting firms in her area, sent a letter of interest to each one, and made follow-up phone calls to these firms' managing partners. This effort landed her a job just in time for the 2013 tax season!

Wake Up to a Job You Love © Home Study System  (Beta) Coming Soon! 

I've been planning a "beta launch" of this self-study system of my career coaching program. It's based on the core content and tools I use with my private clients, to help them build a solid, laser-focused plan to land a job they love which is fun, fulfilling and financially rewarding. This system is perfect for you... whether you're unemployed and struggling to land...or unhappy with your current job or employer and you don't know which way to turn.  

A tentative launch is scheduled for mid-March and will be priced at an introductory "Charter Member" rate of $147.00.  

Originally, I wanted to limit this program to only 10 participants; however, I've decided to make it available to as many people who feel they will benefit from it; no application required. I am planning to offer some special bonuses for the first 10 people who sign up.

Depending on how many people enroll, I may host monthly Q & A group calls and create a private Facebook group for participants to post questions and interact with each other.

There will be a special sales page created for this program and you'll be notified when it's ready.  Until then, please download the updated description of the modules here:

If you have any questions, please email me joellyn@career-success-coach.com; and I will be personally reaching out to those of you who have already expressed interest. 

Career Action Planning (C.A.P.) Session 

• Do 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!  

Skeptical? Here's what one client said about his experience. He got hired five months after his C.A.P. Session!