Love Your Job - Helping you to love your job or to find a job you do love

September 2009

It’s September, holidays over, children back at school and older children off to university. This is the time that people start to think about new jobs, are you one of them?

It’s a lot harder to get a job now, with so many people chasing every job, but my clients are still getting new jobs. Oher clients are taking time out because despite the economic climate they can’t stand another day doing what they have been doing. Most of these are choosing the Gold Programme for a comprehensive review of who they are and what they want to do, with a £50 reduction for recent graduates. The second most popular is the Silver Plus, but I've also had people ask me to put something specific for them such as The Gold Programme Lite or to choose specfific help such as interview coaching.

This is quite a bumper issue, and a bit of a different style with lots of links on to articles and blog entries. I spend quite some time on writing blog posts, twitter updates and articles and I'm not always sure people are aware of what I've written.
 
Key Links

 

Visit My Web site

Visit my Blog

Contact Us

 
 
Quote of the Month

'Dream as if you will live forever, live as if you'll die today.'

James Dean

I intended August to be a more restful month, I'd submitted the typescript for my third book and expected fewer clients in the height of summer, but I've still been busy, including writing an article for Training Journal, answering a question on an online job site, helping journalists and revising some of my literature. Plus more radio interviews – read on for more details.

Many of you will have already completed my 10 steps to a job you love eProgramme, if not you can sign up via my web site. I've now introduced a new final email, with a special offer. If you would like to see what it is look here: http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/newsletter/10steps-day31.html

I've now got 1971 subscribers so should hit the 2000 mark for this time next month – would you help me by passing on this newsletter to others and suggesting they subscribe. I'll have a special gift for the lucky 2,000th subscriber!

Gosh, almost forgot, I'm now the Career Expert for Prime 50 plus. http://www.prime50plus.co.uk/career-guidance-expert-159-203.html
It’s a great site so if you fit the demographic, go and have a look.

In this months issue:

Please dont forget to get in touch if I can be of any help. I look forward to talking to you again next time.

Kindest regards,

REVISED LEAFLET

I'm very pleased with my revised general leaflet, useful when you want to take away some information on who I am, what I do with links to me on the radio and in the press. Use the link below to access your copy

http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/pdf/apccs.pdf

Let me know what you think

Article 1: Changing career at 50 plus
also relevant if you are younger!

I’ve just answered a question on Linked In – “How feasible is it to change career direction at the age of 53?” The person says that he has good leadership skills and plenty of experience and achievements and like many people in their 50s wants to make a greater impact on the world, but he is not clear on what he does want to do. It could be in any part of the world, and virtually any sort of job. He is seeking ideas guidance and advice on what to do.

My answer

As a career coach I have worked with a number of people at 50+ even 60+ and some of these do make radical career changes – from setting up their own business, moving into a portfolio career to radical changes such as moving from a CEO in engineering to education management.

You seem to be open to a range of different ideas, and whilst this is good to keep options open you need to spend some time narrowing down so it is much clearer on what it is that you are looking for so other people can help you.

So what advice may help?

1 – Look back through your CV and review your skills and achievements and think about when you were happiest and what you want to continue to do

2- Think about what excites you, where your passions lie, what you want to do more of in your working life

3 – Understand yourself – from personality and values to location, hours, pressure, and more

4 – Step back and consider what does this suggest? Ask people you know, seek advice, listen to ideas, don’t rule anything out

5 – Get researching to find out as much as you can about your options

6 – Narrow down and create a plan for what you want, you can then start seeking practical help from people so your network will be very helpful here.

I recently wrote an article on changing careers at 50+ and you can read it here:

Changing careers can be done, but you need to draw on your inner resources as it may well be challenging, but if you are determined, and take account of any feedback you get you will make the change.

 
 

Client Feedback

Amazing People Feedback Form

How useful were the coaching/ feedback sessions?  Where 1 is not very useful and 5 is very useful

            1          2          3          4          5         
I have underlined my choice

What did you like, what was helpful about our session(s)?

The fact that I could lead the session, based on the help that I needed.  Maybe it was because I have worked with you before, but the ability to get to the crux of the matter and address it was important for me and you allowed me to do just that. 

The fact that you provided material over and above what I thought was the remit of your discussion.  I did initially look at the cost of the 1 hour session and think that's quite steep, but after all the help I received, I thought it was definitely value for money!

What were the key learning points for you?

The application of what I wouldn't normally use as examples at an interview, for example, planning for a holiday, managing friends or even volunteering many years ago.  You helped me dig deep for examples which I had by asking the right questions

Would you work with me again? Would you recommend this service to your friends/colleagues? What would you say to them?

Without hesitation.  And I constantly recommend you to friends if anyone talks about needing career or CV advice.

If you need someone to help you with where you career is headed, cv advice, prepare for an interview, or even help with deciding whether you should take the job, you have come to the right place!

Every time I have a session with Denise, I learn something new!

Have you any further comments which may be relevant to me?

Thank You! Thank You! Thank You!

Could I use this as a testimonial on my literature?   Yes/ No
Would appreciate it if you could put my name in initials please.  Thank You!

From: (optional) L.T.

ADVICE TO RECENT GRADUATES

You may have had it all planned – good degree, graduate job, nice car! But it’s not turning out that way. So you need to be more flexible but also to make sure you stand out from the rest. The advice in my book – How to get a job in a recession will help – so that your CV and covering letter is as good as can be and you also take a marketing approach to finding a new job; it often is a case of who you know that will help you get a job.

How do you motivate your graduate son or daughter to get a proper job! Can't claim to have the definitive answer but some suggestions here. Read more

ADVICE TO STUDENTS

University is a time to learn lots, meet new friends and have a fantastic time, but the way you will increase your chance of success after graduation is to start getting involved with things that will enhance your CV when you come to apply for jobs, and get started now.

I've an article on my web site that will be a useful read, so you might like to pass this on to a student you know.

Your first graduate job: It does help if you have undertaken some work placements as an undergraduate. This can be a formal part of your degree, e.g. a sandwich course. You can also apply for summer placements with companies. There are 19 more tips.  Read more

Article 2: Job Search: How interview coaching can help you get a job

Do you have an interview lined up but lacking confidence? Then booking an interview coaching session with Denise can help.

Last week I had a phone call from Emma, she was getting very worried about her forthcoming interviews – she had already been shortlisted twice before and failed to get both jobs so wanted some help in how to improve.

Emma had lots going for her - she was getting shortlisted and had a successful track record in health and safety, but was getting fed up and a little depressed that she didn’t get the job offer.

She lived some distance away (a 6 hour round trip) so we opted for a phone interview coaching session. I never used to do these but clients are finding them helpful and time efficient. The first hour followed this process

  • I asked questions

  • She responded

  • I then gave feedback from an interviewers perspective

  • We then reviewed it from an interview coaching perspective

  • She then answered the question a second time

Like other people I’ve worked with she was modest, and didn’t want to sell herself, but if she didn’t describe her strengths and achievements who would? She also had a tendency to waffle and to loose the key points amongst the rest. So we practiced answering questions in the same style as a newspaper article – the headline, next important and then the rest.

We also practiced how to answer the salary question, especially as their range covered £10,000 and she wanted to be offered a salary at the top of the range as she had previously earned more than that. We worked out why she was worth that amount of money and she told them this. I also talked through how she should follow up afterwards. We then had a follow up session on the morning of the interview, with final coaching support and help with increasing confidence.

She phoned a few days later and said she was delighted to learn that not only was she to be offered the job, but also they would match her previous salary.

Emma had bought my book – How to get a job in a recession, which she had found very helpful, and the interview coaching was a great addition as the support was personalised to her.

Can I help you? Do get in touch.

In the Media in August

  • Phone interview for US Webinar show on being happy at work, not sure when it will be broadcast, will let you know! (3rd August)
  • Radio City - 40 minute interview answering questions on job hunting (24th August)
  • City Talk Radio, talking about job search (26th August)
  • Radio Gloucestershire, discussing 'do people deserve high salaries?' (27th August)
  • Brief reference to me in a Sunday Telegraph article, no need for A level students to go to Uni, 16th August
  • Evening Standard, quite a lot of my comments included in an article Rapid Rise of the Portfolio Worker, 18 August 2009
  • Produced an article for Training Journal on using the Thomas Kilman Instrument (TKI), not sure when it will be published
  • A number of my articles to be found on Prime50 plus

Twittertwitter image

 

Here are a few of my interesting tweets - why not check them out? And why not 'follow me' on twitter or book mark this link so you can keep up to date with interesting short links

http://twitter.com/amazingpeople

 

DOWNLOAD DENISE ON THE RADIO

You can right click these 3 links to save these audio clips to your desk top so that you can listen at your convenience.

Listen to Denise on Radio Gloucestershire discussing how to get a job in a recession - Click to download a 23 minute interview in a zip folder.
Listen to Denise on City Talk Radio talking about the Impact of redundancy on people.
Listen to Denise on City Talk Radio answering questions on a phone in programme about job hunting. Click to download a 40 minute discussion in a zip folder.

 
 

What Denise did last month
  • Undertook 16 client sessions, including interview coaching, and taking clients through the Gold Programme
  • Wrote 22 entries on my blog
  • Wrote lots of Tweets
  • Bought tickets for The Prodigy and Muse
  • Went to Beautiful Days Festival in Devon
  • Saw Kasabian at Wolverhampton Civil Hall
  • Went to South West Four & Get Loaded in the Park at Clapham Common

In the Blog

I write my blog most days. Why not sign up to receive articles direct to your inbox or follow me on twitter for a short link to follow

http://www.amazingpeople.co.uk/blog/

You can subscribe to the feed using this link:

http://feeds.feedburner.com/AmazingPeopleBlog

Here's a selection from what was on the Blog in August

Get in touch

For a confidential chat about how we could work together email or call me on 01684 772 888

Amazing People - Tewkesbury, GL20 8HL - Career Coaching, Counselling and Guidance - Assessments - Job Search Support - Assessment and Development specialist: denise@amazingpeople.co.uk

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