CAREER COACHING

In a survey conducted by the International Coaching Federation, 70% of the respondents said that their investment in a coach was "very valuable".

Some of the outcomes that clients most often attribute to their coaching are:

higher level of self-awareness
smarter goal-setting
a more balanced life
lower stress levels
more self-confidence
change in career
enhanced communication skills

Coaching works because the client accounts for his/her action and learning. Clients learn that they control the coach/client relationship and the changes they make in their lives. It is a very powerful relationship that lasts on average about 6 months, although one respondent reported working with their coach on a continual basis that had lasted 6 years and counting.

Who is a good candidate for coaching? Someone who has the drive to better themselves in some way, but needs the call to action facilitated by the coach. In the survey, 82% of clients have a college degree; over 1/3 hold a Master's degree or higher.

If you're ready to move forward and take action, call me or visit my website: www.resumesuite.com.

Handwritten Notes

When the pope died, a friend of mine asked for protocol advice. She was wondering about the proper thing to do for some of her very devout Catholic friends. We talked about ideas / possibilities (email, phone call, card, etc) and then the subject turned to handwritten notes.

Handwritten notes have taken the back seat to email messages. I have to admit that I have only one friend who writes to me in her own handwriting! I treasure every note from her.

Handwritten notes create a warm feeling. They show that the person took the extra effort to find the tools--pen, paper, envelope, and stamp--and then took some time to write a personal note.

When I coach my clients in the interviewing process I often get questions about sending email "thank-you's" after the interview. The answer is always NO! Take the extra time. It will pay off.

Why Women Leave the "Fast Lane"

Harvard Business Review featured an interesting article on what keeps talented women on the road to success in its March 2005 issue. In a survey of highly qualified professionals, these statistics emerged:
Top five reasons women leave the fast lane:

• Family time – 44%
• Earn a degree, other training – 23%
• Work not enjoyable/satisfying – 17%
• Moved away – 17%
• Change careers – 16%
  

Top five reasons men leave the fast lane:

• Change careers – 29%
• Earn a degree, other training – 25%
• Work not enjoyable/satisfying – 24%
• Not interested in field – 18%
• Family time – 12%
  

Though the average amount of time that women take off from their careers is surprisingly short (less than three years), the salary penalty for doing so is severe. Women who return to the workforce after time out earn significantly less than their peers who remained in their jobs.

Salary Implications for Time Out:

• Salary of those who took no time out – 100% earning potential
• Salary of those who took less than one year out – 89% (or an 11% reduction)
• Salary of those who took three years or more out – 63% (or a 37% reduction)

Learn effective career management and avoid the salary drain. Find your passion in life with career coaching from Resume Suite. www.resumesuite.com