Career Coaching: Do Men See It Differently Than Women?

You know what I've noticed lately? Most of my career-coaching clients are men. Out of the last 26 career coaching/interview coaching/job search advice sessions I've conducted, 19 clients were male, and 7 were female. I know that doesn't represent the gender ratio within the medical sales field (or any other), so what gives?

Do females invest in their careers less than males? Do females prefer to seek help from male advisors rather than female ones? Do men have less of an issue than most people would believe about accepting career help from a female advisor?

There's a marked lack of females in business management positions, and I think that's partially because women are less likely (for various reasons) to play politics and participate in the networking necessary for climbing the ladder, and that women don't support each other in the workplace all that well-yet. But maybe another reason is that they aren't investing in their careers by seeking mentors, sharpening skill sets, or hiring a career coach in order to put themselves in the best possible position for advancement.

Does the stereotypical image of a female candidate accepting a lower salary or unwilling to ask for a raise extend to the idea that she won't invest in herself as a candidate? Are women simply less competitive than men-which means they don't go after every advantage they can get?

Is it that women rely more on conventional methods of skill-building (classes, certifications, etc.) instead of slightly out-of-the-box ideas like interview coaching? Does it seem riskier to them? Men are notorious for being more willing to take risks in all areas of their lives, so maybe that explains their seemingly increased willingness to try something new.

Here's what I think: If women really are less confident in the workplace, it makes sense that they should seek out someone to interact with to build their candidate skill set and confidence. If women can't find a mentor the "traditional" way, hiring a career coach who climbed the medical sales corporate ladder as a female and can speak from personal experience in the trenches sounds like just the ticket. And if women value their careers, they should be willing to invest in themselves, sharpen their skills, take a few risks, and step on up to success.

How to Find a Job - 3 Powerful Tips

3 Tips to find a job in 2011

As a recruiter and career consultant I am often asked by job seekers what the best ways are to find a job. I can think of dozens of techniques but if I were job hunting right now here are the three main ways that I would go about the job search process.

Create a target list of companies that you want to work for and then send your cover letter and resume directly. Here is an idea, try dropping your resume off in person or using the mail. I know it sounds old fashioned but it still works.

Another way to target your job search is to find out who the recruiter or hiring manager is at your targeted organization and send them a personalized email with your resume attached. LinkedIn is a great source to find out this information. Another site that is useful and free is Spokeo.

Another great job hunting technique and way to effectively utilize LinkedIn is to join groups that are relevant to your career. LinkedIn has a search engine where you can plug in your keywords and they will suggest the groups that match best with the most popular groups listed first. While in the groups you can network through the discussions and also search jobs that are listed by other group members. There are also specific groups that were created for job seekers and recruiters to connect.

Why You Should Always Press Forward In Your Job Search (Even When An Offer Seems Imminent)

Many job seekers face the same conundrum that this job seeker asked me about:

I have been to several interviews and am waiting to hear back. I like the idea of taking a break and also want to wait and see what happens with this first group of companies. I have other companies I could start researching, but I don't want to spread myself too thin. How do I know when to keep pushing for more leads or focus on the ones I've started?

One of my former coaching clients should have wrapped up her within a few months. But then with budgets tightening, the job that she seemed poised to get was not filled after all. This happened to her twice before her third job offer finally stuck. The first time it happened, she had slowed down the pace with other companies in play and then had to rebuild her momentum again. The second time she kept her other searches going simultaneously even when one seems promising. When the second imminent offer fell through, she barely missed a beat. Score one for Press Forward.

In investing, you shouldn't try to time the market because you may pull out on the handful of days when the market makes its big returns. Similarly, in the job search, persistent and regular action is critical to getting in front of the right opportunities at the right time. If you put yourself out there day in and day out, you are more likely to be front and center when that ideal job opens up. In today's volatile hiring market, right place and right time could be anywhere and anytime, hence the need to Press Forward.

If interviews are going well, don't stop looking elsewhere. The budget may disappear, another candidate may appear, the chemistry may be off with a key decision-maker that only gets involved at the end of the interview process. Even if the offer does come through and you do accept it, the other interviews will serve as building blocks for your network, data points for your negotiations, and springboards for your next search.

This is the era of 24/7 job search, where your next search starts as soon as you finish this one. I don't mean that you send out resumes and schedule job interviews on your first day of the new job or even shortly thereafter. But I do mean that you don't ever stop managing your career -- keeping an updated resume, maintaining your network, being aware of opportunities (even if that means referring other people instead of yourself). Work your job but also work your career: the person who works a job has things happen to them; and the person who works a career is ready at a moment's notice to deal with an unexpected restructuring, layoff, or golden opportunity elsewhere.

To always Press Forward means that you take control over your career. It takes work and a shift in mindset, but once you do it and experience the power of having choices, you will never go back to the old-style, timid job search. With a tight market, old job search techniques just don't cut it.

Avoid These Three Common Job Search Bobbles

The ball pops out of the shortstop's glove, even though it went straight at him. "Oh, he bobbled it," the sportscaster calls. It's not a career-ender, but it may get the runner on, and maybe that runner will score. In the end, the bobble may be costly. Job search bobbles are small and may fall under the radar. But, they can be costly, so try to avoid them:

Presentation counts. Mickey Mouse dress socks peek from under a candidate's slacks as he sits down. The candidate doesn't get the job, as the employer interprets his choice of socks as a lapse in professional judgment. (True story, and this happened at the meeting when our client was going to make this candidate an offer!)

Timing is everything. Get to your interview fifteen minutes early. There may be forms to fill out. There may be security hurdles to clear in the lobby reception. There may be a slow elevator. All three apply to just one employer for whom I recruited.

Choose your words wisely. Your word processing program only catches words that are completely misspelled. It won't catch words that are out-of-context. If a salesperson does "meat" clients, perhaps she should be a butcher. Even the most vulgar trader probably doesn't work in "pubic" finance. There may be a "Colombia" University in Bogota, but not in New York.

In short, be conservative. Dress in proper business attire. Give yourself plenty of time to get to the interview. Proofread all of your correspondence. Bobbles are only funny on the highlight reel.

Admin Jobs - Top 5 Tips To Remember While Applying For Admin Jobs

If you plan to start a career in the management, the administration jobs are great start even if you plan to change direction in the future. The admin jobs are often tough but quite rewarding if the employer really understands the worth of this crucial seat. Here are few ideas to increase your competency as perspective admin field. Here are few things that might be expected from you in admin jobs

1. Time Management
2. Multitasking
3. Coordination
4. Team spirit
5. Communication skills

The resume is often the first indicator for the abilities of any person, if your CV is excellent, organized and represented in good order the half work is already done. The problem with not updating the resume can be really bad as you might not even be called for the job interview if the impression is not right. The bottom line in resume writing is that each job might require you to tweak the resume a little. Update the resume; include the recent data or skills that you might have acquired during the recent time to make it more effective.

The admin jobs are mostly related to the management and completion of the different tasks. The successful candidate should have the ideas on time management, doing the different jobs at the same time, and even reviewing the jobs in the middle. This is stressful job also in many cases as there are many things that might be requiring attention at the same time. There might be some questions that might come on this side also.

The work experience often is one area which might have the maximum number of questions. Showing the positive approach to the former employer is the right approach. If you should disrespect to your former employer in front of the future, they might think that you are not having positive attitude. Similarly even if the job was terminated, or you left the employer, if you have mentioned them in the resume they would be asked for the recommendations in the future as well.

Work the Way You Want To

 Money is an inevitably important part of our lives. To deny the importance of it is out rightly foolish. Everyone needs money for everything. We all love money but the difficult part is how to get enough of it? Looking for work can be a tiresome procedure. After all those years of hard work and education, if you are not able to find a job that is both well paying and interesting, it is a sure path to stress and frustration.

So why not look for something that pays you as well as gives you satisfaction. Freelance work online in Australia is a popular option for many who are always on the lookout for some extra cash. No one minds a little more money. With the help of online job search you can chalk out some good options and choose the one that suits you best. There are excellent opportunities for freelance work online, part time work and need extra cash jobs. While looking for a new job, make sure to once browse through for some spectacular opportunities.

Looking for work online is both easy and fruitful. You can find work opportunities that suit your profile. It is always better to find a job that suits your skills and interest. That way you will be on a lifelong holiday and you won't have to work a day in your life. Freelance work is a great option for those who either need to earn extra money or do not have ample time for a full time job.

Accounting Jobs - Things To Avoid in Filling a Job Application

 Most job applications are often straightforward, yet some of us make few key mistakes in filling them. You might be using the online version or the manual; the job applications contain few things common like the contact information, educational background and job history. Here are few simple things that might guide you in filling the job application especially for the accounting jobs.

Things to avoid list here includes

1. Not following the time line
2. Enlist everything and all the non related job experience
3. Leaving the time gaps without justification
4. Not including the easier to reach address or contact number

In terms of importance the job history is most important area for any applicant. This is the place that you should try & shine the most. Providing the list of tasks and responsibilities that you used to handle is the key in here. While you can have every thing under the sun as job experience, the accounting job might only limited information, specifically relating to the tasks of book keeping, financial reporting and similar.

The information about your education is also a key area. You should include all of your qualifications in here. This area can be filled according to the instructions too, but try to be more assertive and include all things which might create the better impression. Things like awards, seminars, workshops, and even working in some important project might also be highlighted in here.

The common mistake in one can make is not placing the time line with the different jobs and education. If there are many gaps in the education and you are no able to remember the exact reason for that best way for it is to be honest but down play this fact. If other things in your resume are stronger you might not be asked too much in this.

The job application should be filled confidently. The information with time line should be with you all the time, so filling things can be easier. Trusting memory can often result in some mistakes in the years, so go back to the experience letters you have and take the dates from there.

Hotel Jobs - Can I Survive on Hotel and Medical Jobs?

 The most asked question about the hotel or medicine field by some one wishing to start a career is about the potential in terms of money. The charm of the hospitality industry or the respect in the medical fields is often the driving force for the people entering in this field but things like job security, insurance and stability are on the wish list. Here are few ideas how you can not only survive in these jobs but make some serious money at that.

The entry level jobs in the hotel industry and medical are often not highly paid and often seasonal. This problem can be overcome if you find he right employer where the chances of growth are strong. The key here is really having the right attitude and being realistic about the potential of certain job. Most jobs in the hotel industry start at the guest checking, front desk, or any other department. There are long hours and limited area to show your skills in here, but this can really be rewarding at the same time.

You can start using the online courses for increasing your skill level and adoptability also. Sales officers are the next level to the front desk. One can easily reach at this level after about six months or so. The sales jobs are highly paid and one can expect the salary around 50k right in the start. This job often requires you to interact with the different customers, departments and even the employers, so having good communication skills is handy for this stage.

There are different routes to move ahead from he stagnant posts in the bottom; either you move to the different job or apply for the promotion. Relocating to the larger cities can really be a big plus for anyone wishing to find his place in sun under these fields. There are more jobs, different companies, and even better organizations that are market leaders, joining them will not only give you chance to learn from best, but increase your market worth quite dramatically.

Government Jobs - Why People Prefer Government Jobs?

The charm of working in the government jobs is always there. Call it prestige, power, or just the wish to work in structured environment, chances of achieving things in here is more so as profit is not the driving force behind it. Here are few reasons why people wish to find the government jobs.

The job security is often the first thing any employee thinks. The highly paid jobs in many fields like sales and media are often left by people as the job market in there is often not stable. This stability might not be a reality in many cases as there is a global trend of reducing the government share, still the number of people applying in here is still quite high.

The pay structure in the government sector is quite good especially for the people from the remote areas. There are often not many jobs in the far flung places, and working with stable employer like state might provide you the easy shelter that can be crucial. The cost saving and other cuts often happen in the salary of the private sector more than the government.

The fringe benefits in working for state are quite good as there is a proper structure of hospitals and institutions that can be used. Things like dental and other work that tend to be quite costly and not covered by the private sector are all fully covered in here.

You can also have more holidays while working for the government also. The working hours are often relaxed as compare to the private sector in most cases. The work load is not there so one has the chance to explore the other areas of the family life while working for state.

The promotions and advancement in the profession is often more speedy in the state jobs. You can expect the fair treatment even if you are a female, or from minority in the state organizations too.

Do You Realize How Many Types of Customer Service Jobs There Are?

Customer service jobs are found in the shape of various activities in most of all companies, government services and non-for-profit organizations. In the majority all these types of jobs they are tailored to the need to the specific branch and their needs to address their customers.

The collective term "customer service jobs" is incorporated with a wide area of definitions for work for and with customers in all stages of the sales process.

The main purpose of those types of jobs is to deal with people by phone, face to face or by email. The focus of this service might be serving existing customers, prospective customers or generating interested parties for goods and services offered. Some customer service jobs have a more strategic purpose.

Skills Required For The Position Regardless of the type customer service you will provide you will need some soft skills which enable you to deal with people of all social backgrounds, age, race, religion and gender. You must be open minded and patient. You must know how to listen to people and have to be patient and have a people friendly mentality and as well as an ability to comprehend what the situation is in order to be successful. Being in front of the customers is indeed a playground for outgoing personalities.

Customer service jobs face to face This is the traditional type of dealing with customers and serve them to their utmost satisfaction. Depending on the goods or service offered, you need an in depth knowledge of what are you selling. This involves sometimes long term learning. In Germany for instance, people who are shop assistants have to undergo a three years course or have proof of studying the industry and must pass an exam in order to be considered for a service job..

Jobs like the service technician, are defined as a customer service jobs. They are the people who work with pre-existing customers. He only has to solve technical problems or has to install the technical product the customer purchased before. Some technicians are also obliged to sell additional products or service while he is performing his technical tasks.

Customer service jobs by phone Ever since a brilliant person came up with the idea of the mail order catalog, a position for an order clerk came about. Customer care centers were organized where an agent receives a phone call from a customer who wants to order goods or services.

Customer service jobs not directly related to sales A very recent category of customer service jobs are the customer care centers for various branches. All companies which sell via the internet have established centers to provide all aspects of customer care in all facets of online business.

Contact with customers is performed by telephone agents and agents who answer incoming emails from the customers. Even though these customers service jobs were not intended to be sales positions they are sometimes called upon to help in the sales of products.

Setting Up a 90 Day Job Search Plan

You are hunting for a job but don't know what you are actually looking for. Here's an easy way to start out on job hunting without unnecessary worry. First of all sit down with a notebook and pen and make a list of the types of job that appeal to you. You should include what you are good at, the skills you have, your capabilities, and qualifications and in the location you would like to work.

1. Ask yourself what work you would like to do. You may have something specific in mind or feel motivated to do something outside your normal skills.

2. Write down your ideas and give it deep thought. There could be a big difference between what you would like to do and what you can do. You might have to start small in order to take you to that place where you could fulfill a lifelong ambition. If you have the patience and the time to wait for it, it could prove to be worth your while. On the other hand, if you are job hunting in desperation to find a job as soon as possible, you can't afford to take your likings and ambitions into consideration.

3. Knowing what you want is the key to finding a good job.

4. Job hunting without a plan will not bring any positive results because you will be roaming around not knowing where to look and what to look for. Once you have your list sorted out, start looking at job announcements under headings that show your preferences. When you see something you like, read it carefully to check if the location of the job is to your liking. If you're looking for a job close to your home, there's no point in applying for a job that's 100 miles away.

A great resume should be your next objective. Prepare one that will make the interviewer sit up and take notice. Apart from the basic details that you write down, include any special skills and talents you have. Give proof of work done by you or incidents where your interaction helped to solve a problem. These are the unique and different things about a prospective employee that most employers look for.

Tip: Job hunting should be done in such a way that wherever you go, the interviewer will remember you either because of your exclusive resume or of the way you conducted yourself at the interview.

Tip: Job hunting online could also prove to be fruitful with thousands of jobs being advertised daily. Create a professional looking e-mail address and register in as many job banks as you can. Post your unique resume to these sites and wait for the responses.

Tip: You can also use social networking sites for your job hunting. Make use of your connections in sites such as MySpace and FaceBook to let your contacts know that you are job hunting. With almost everyone using the Internet to search for everything from information to job hunting, you should be able to find a suitable job soon enough.

Tip: Most of all have confidence in you and recognize your strengths and weaknesses.

Tip: Try not to mention the latter in your resume or at interviews. Build up your good points and accentuate your strengths while mitigating your weaknesses. Make job hunting an art and before you know it, there will be so many calling for your services that you will not know which job to choose.

Can Anyone Get A Government Job?

There are so many people these days that are unable to find work and unfortunately most of them are looking in the wrong place. College Graduates are going into jobs that pay very little but accept them because they think they have no other alternative. They don't realize that a Government job could be their best choice today and with a little patience and know how, they should be able to find a great Government job that would be in keeping with their particular skills and also help them rise further in their career.

Most Government organizations have their own application form which you are required to complete and submit to them with a cover letter. When applying for a position, your cover letter should be impressive since the application form will ask only for basic details such as your name, address, qualifications and experience and you will not be able to write at length on your special skills and capabilities on that form. Therefore you should go to great lengths to write a cover letter that is spell and grammar checked and is 100% error free.

In the case of finding a govt. job, it is better to make your search offline. Look in the print media where Government jobs are advertised and also through word of mouth. You can make inquiries from other govt. employees you know and ask them to spread the word so that as soon as a vacancy appears in a branch, you will know about it.

If you are in an area where there are many govt. offices, you can always visit them and look up their bulletin board where information is posted. This is a good way to jobs because they are first posted on the board before it is publicly advertised. Finding a vacancy this way will also give you a head start on your competition that would never go the extra mile to visit a recruitment office that handles Govt. jobs.

Government jobs also can be found at Job fairs where you will have the advantage of talking directly to the recruiters to find out what type jobs they have and what kind of duties are expected by the organization concerned.

Employees of the Government don't have to worry as much about being laid off or the economic recession making a difference to your job situation. Even if the pay at the start isn't as much as you would like, a these jobs come with benefits and job security that would be better than many other glamour jobs in the market where you could be sent home for the slightest reason. A job with the Government also ensures a yearly raise and you don't have to worry about old age, because your retirement benefits are also looked after by the government.

If you are lucky enough to be offered a Government job, don't think twice about it, accept it no matter where you are going to be based. You can always ask for a transfer later on if you so desire. Even if you have to relocate your family, it is well worth it in the long run, with less hours of work in the government sector, you can even get involved in some private enterprise that would enable you to double your income.