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Archive for the ‘Career Discovery’ Category
Monday, July 19th, 2010
The Open University has reported that the number of 18-21 year olds starting degrees with the OU is up 17% on the previous academic year. 25% of new OU students are under 25.
This method of study means you can study part time alongside a job and you are unlikely to get into high levels of debt.
I have gained all my qualifications part time, and did my first degree from 1981-88 whilst building a career within Royal Mail. Back then it was 6 years for an ordinary degree and 8 years for an honours degree, and studying for 12 hours a week meant it would take 6 or 8 years. you can now get an honours degree in 6 years.
I was working full time so 12 hours of study was all I could manage, but if you were working part time you could do 2 courses a year and still get a degree in 3 years, with no debt and 3 years of work experience.
I highly recommend the OU having gained both my first degree in psychology and my MBA with them. There are of course other options including Birkbeck College, University of London. I did my MSc in Occupational Psychology via their distance learning course which was mainly study from home but we met up for a weekend once a term. There was also the night school option for those who were able to attend 2 evenings a week.
The benefits of an OU degree
- you can pay as you go so don’t build up a lot of debt
- you can work part time and live from home
- employers love the way you demonstrate great time management skills
- study and work can enhance each other, so you are more likely to get promoted
What do you think about part time study? Have you done it? Would you?
Posted in ABOUT DENISE, Career Discovery, STUDENTS AND GRADUATES
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Sunday, July 11th, 2010
It may seem very logical for some people but when you’re in the middle of a crisis or funk, when you just can’t see the woods for the trees and cannot dig yourself out of that black hole of de-motivation, the thought of dusting yourself off in readiness for the next adventure in life can tip you over the edge! So that is when the thoughtful 10 steps structure can be a head clearing godsend! The key I think is that it makes you stop and THINK!
You may not meet everything on your wish list of a utopian job, but at least you are clearer about what it is you like and dislike and being realistic in terms of what you can or will put up with on the way to getting there. Some of the thought provocation is difficult, especially near the end if you’re not used to thinking of yourself in terms of a product or service or sales pitch! What do you do well? Sleep was my first response.
In my case I was finally made redundant after years of living through political and hierarchical machinations of torture in terms of job roles, organisation structure and performance measurements. Communication was diabolical and we all basically stayed for truly wrong reasons. For me this was a release and I was one of the few wandering round the office with a smile for the last 3 months, but…I had no clue (as usual) what to do next as like with every other job throughout my increasingly long life, I had just ‘fallen’ into it. There was no master plan of action; I just need ‘a’ job with little thought to enjoyment as long as it paid the bills and for trips abroad. The thought of actually doing anything I enjoyed as a job was just didn’t enter my brain.
So I went through the steps and did laugh as so few of my previous roles had anything much to do with my passions or natural skills and instincts. In fact a lot of the time I have gone against my natural temperament and abilities, though paying tribute to them occasionally in some roles I’d had I had mostly developed ‘interventions’ to develop the skills I have.
So my decision after a nice long holiday to think some more and have a bit of a collapse after 10 years at the same place was to try university and see if study would actually assist me in finding a concrete path to something I truly enjoy doing. Ultimately I’m still learning about myself and still finding my way in terms of alternative job roles. The last few steps are in no way near completion, but I do have my steps with me that I can update and confirm and think about. I know my values and that life is short and its way too short to spend in a job you hate or company that destroys your life energy and soul. So I highly recommend the journey, even if you can’t answer all the questions yet, talking to people and learning along the way questioning yourself will mean you start to get more answers! And who knows, one day I might hit upon that role that leaps out at me and shouts UTOPIA!!!
Posted in Career Discovery
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Tuesday, June 22nd, 2010
Many people are dissatisfied in their job, for many its more niggles than a real hatred for the job but sometimes the niggles make people take action, and it is not always the right thing for them.
One of my clients, let’s call him John has been talking to me for a couple of months as he is not happy in his work – he doesn’t like all the travel, and the job is getting too repetitive. But … the job pays well, especially the commission and he has got used to having the extra money.
He would love to get a new job, but what? If it is going to involve a drop in income he wants to make sure it really is a job that appeals to him and provides lots of satisfaction. So we are now working together.
What he wants to avoid is the situation a colleague is in. He also was dissatisfied in his job, but rather than think things through he took a new job and then thought about it. He is now unhappy, really unhappy and desperate for a new job. What he is likely to do is to take the next job he gets, just to get him out of his current job, but will this be right for him?
As I’m typing this up I’ve taken a call from someone else, let’s call her Jane. Jane has been working in marketing for 4 years, in 3 different jobs and wondering if she should take the time to identify what job would be the best fit for her, but she already has an interview for another marketing job next week so she could again be feeling restless in a year or less.
When people talk with me about finding a job they will love I tell them that the process can take time, there is a lot of personal work to do and alongside choosing the right career path/job; time also needs to be spent identifying the right sort of company and location.
For Jane marketing might be the right career but she hasn’t found the right company or location. For John he needs to work out what takes priority, a high income with money to spare or a job which enriches his life. He may get both, but it often is an either/or situation.
The approach I take with my clients varies, with some it is focused on coaching, but for many they will choose to include assessments such as The Highlands Ability Battery, The Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) or the Strong Interest Inventory.
Career coaching can help you in these difficult decisions, if you have a question or you would like to know more please do get in touch.
Posted in Career Discovery
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Tuesday, April 20th, 2010
Not sure, how to embed this short movie so you need to click on the link LEADERSHIP ON FILM 003
Years ago I realised one day that I’d become very successful in my senior role through being a long way from the natural me, too much of my personality was hidden away to suit the needs of the role. Once I realised this I left, and now I can be totally me working in my own business.
Working with my clients I use the Myers Briggs Type Indicator to help them to understand their personal style and this helps them to understand how they prefer to behave at work. Of course we all need to adapt to others on occasion but that’s a lot different to having to be someone else for the majority of the time.
Being 2 different people can really drain us of our energy, it’s much easier to just be you. Why not have a think for now to what extent can you be you at work, and to what extent are you taking on another role.
Of course sometimes it can help to take on a different persona for some of the time, but trying to be someone different for too long can lead to stress.
Posted in Career Discovery, MBTI
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Wednesday, March 17th, 2010
A typical career coaching client enquiry is from somebody who is very unhappy in their work but has no idea what to do.
when I ask them what they have done, they often have used a similar approach. this is to scan job ads – online and in print and hope that something catches their eye, but it doesn’t help. They are just too many possibilities and they can be overwhelmed with all the options, unsure how they match up and still wonder if this job will be ‘the one’.
Some people will apply for lots and lots of jobs, without taking the time to think if they are a great match or not, and applying for 10 jobs a day, but the applications are not targeted, so they don’t get invited to interview and this can lead to them feeling depressed, through the constant rejection.
I’ve recently had an enquiry from somebody who has spent nearly 3 years unhappy in their job and struggling to make a decision on their own, but self assessments and reviewing job ads haven’t brought her any closer to choosing what to do next.
There are lots of negative consequences in being in a job we don’t enjoy, from making us feel stressed and anxious, to lacking in confidence, especially if we don’t get the support from managers and team members. It also has negative consequences on relationships, both with our partners and friends. This can be down to the stress and anxiety seeping out into our non working lives, and we can be seen as a bit miserable and not a great person to be around.
People contact me as they have read on my web site that I have an approach that works, taking a systematic approach to finding out who you are, and what you want to do.
This then helps my clients to have a much better understanding of who they are, which is also helpful for interviews, and what they want to do, so they can take a focused approach to career and job search.
So if you are struggling to work out what you should be doing in your career, please get in touch.
Posted in Career Discovery
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Sunday, March 14th, 2010
I offer clients a complimentary eProgramme – 10 steps to a job you love which you can get from signing up on my website. See the sign up box on the top right of every page.
I created this as a means of helping people to get thinking about who they are and what they want in a career. Some people will use this as a means of getting to know me and the work I do, with steps in the programme including
1. Why you want to change careers?
2. A clear vision of your future work environment
3. What you love to do
4. Your personal style and how to describe it, which links to details on the MBTI
5. Your skills
6. Your interests, which links to details on the Strong Interest Inventory
Your values and how they drive your career choices
7. Your abilities, which links to details on the Highlands Ability Battery
A recent subscriber wrote:
Hello Denise,
A couple of months ago I turned to you for advise, and because my current work situation was so chaotic I felt that wasn’t the ideal time to engage fully in a personal coaching program, but signed up your free e course and read some of the articles in your newsletter and blog.
And that was all I needed, I have now landed my dream job!
I can’t tell you how good I feel about this!
I have what others consider to be a "good job", but there were so many things that are not in line with my personal values and what I feel good about.
First I started by checking out your advise about "what to do if you hate your job and just can’t leave". That helped to reduce some stress in my current situation. And then I started doing all the exercises in your e- course…
And by completing all the exercises (well at least going through them) and getting to "know me" I did so well at my 1st interview!
My objective with that interview was just that I wanted to be well prepared, feel good when I left and make sure I felt good about my performance, that I had managed to do my best!
And I did!
Thank you so much
I remember just reading your emails and the material you sent me initially started to fill me with positive thoughts…and now 2 months or something later I have found a great job! A job that involves many of the key elements I want in my ideal job!
Thank you so much for inspiring me to get round to making this change
Jess
Why not sign up for the 10 steps to a job you love eProgramme and see where it gets you?
Posted in ASSESSMENTS, Career Discovery
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Thursday, January 14th, 2010
Sometimes I get excited about a new resource. This time it is http://icould.com. This website provides details on around 1,000 videos.
The videos are there to help you to understand more about different careers and to feel inspired and encouraged.
If you are thinking of a possible career – from accountant to zoo keeper, choose a video and you can listen to them talk about their job: what they do how they got there and hopes for the future.
There are also stories from famous people and their stories are to inspire you, as they talk about difficulties and setbacks.
There is detail on the site on how to search, and this could be my key word or to choose by sector, qualifications and personal influences.
Probably the biggest danger is that you could spend hours on this site – so set some objectives and monitor your time.
I now recommend this site to all my clients, if you use it – let me know what you think.
Posted in Career Discovery
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Monday, January 11th, 2010
You will go through an intensive programme to understand who you are and receive guidance and support to take action that will lead to the success you want.
Is Denise a Coach? Mentor?
Denise fulfils many roles from advice, coaching and challenge to creative ideas and business strategist.
With the Platinum Programme you get Denise by your side, with the personal guidance you need to ensure you stay highly motivated and don’t get stuck.
She has worked with chief executives and directors, and those aspiring to these roles and was previously an assistant director herself.
Your goal may be
- To reach chief executive or board member
- To make a fundamental career change
- To have in-depth mentoring to support and challenge you with work situations
- To get in-depth psychometric coaching to increase your interpersonal and relationship skills through intensive personal feedback
- To reach your potential
The Platinum Programme is developed specifically for you. For many this will start with an in-depth personal review, considering and exploring your professional background, work history and education.
Read more and request a copy of the accompanying brochure >>
Posted in CAREER MANAGEMENT, Career Advice, Career Discovery, Outplacement
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Friday, January 8th, 2010
Career Change is scary when you are trying to do it all alone.
Do you feel stuck in a job that doesn’t excite you? Are you bored to tears or even stressed out by your job? Does Monday morning fill you with dread?
Perhaps you’ve dreamt that there must be something out there more fulfilling, exciting and worthwhile for you to do? You may have even considered changing career but don’t know how or what you could even do.
There’s a free series of tele-seminars with guest experts, and I’m one of them!
Come and join the Free Career Change Formula Tele seminar series, which starts on the 11th January
2010. During this unique Tele-seminar Series you’ll:
· Discover how to change career in a less than favourable economic climate
· Learn how to start your own business – become aware of some of the pitfalls and how to overcome them.
· Develop the mindset for career change success
· Learn how you can put fear of making a career mistake to bed
· Learn ways that you can connect with what you truly want from your career
· Discover ways you can get your finances in order before making the change
· Understand why knowing your “Why” is the missing ingredient for career success.
Don’t miss the chance to learn from some of the most respected people in personal transition and
career change industry today.
Posted in Career Discovery, Career Motivators, Interview Tips & Assessment Centres
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Thursday, January 7th, 2010
Finding out your natural abilities is a fundamental step towards a satisfying and successful career.
‘Taking the Highlands Ability Battery was a useful, practical way to get some external guidance when you are bogged down in the complexities of identifying career decisions. Definitely helped to re-energise my thinking.’ Dominic Ball
‘A fascinating and valuable insight into one’s strengths and abilities, weaknesses and opportunities for improvement. This will serve me well in my career and in my private life. Absolutely worth the money (even though it is a substantial investment).’ Paula Mason
‘I thought the Highlands Ability Battery was amazing. It tested just about everything there was to test and it is impossible to be happy in your career until you understand yourself.’ Jacqui Knutsford
Real career success is rarely down to money and status and much more to do with finding a job which ties in with your natural talents and abilities.
Understanding our natural abilities helps us understand why we find certain situations difficult and where we will gain most career satisfaction. The Highlands Ability Battery is an objective assessment of your natural ability and consists of 19 work samples. It’s extensive, taking around 3 hours (but you don’t need to complete it in one session) and the results will help you to really understand yourself.
Your results are shown as percentiles on a graph, comparing your scores to other people who have taken the HAB. A high score isn’t better than a low, it depends on whether a job requires it, or not. It’s frustrating to have an ability and not need it in a job or need an ability you don’t have.
The report is divided into driving abilities, specialised abilities and personal style.
Posted in ASSESSMENTS, Career Discovery, Highlands Ability Battery
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