How Can I Find a Mentor to Help Me Succeed

When you're in transition or looking to take that next step in your career (or business), finding a mentor can seem like a lost art. Here's another question and answer from the Today's Woman: Your Life, Career & Outfit coaches panel with my tips on how to find a mentor.

Q: How would I find a mentor, preferably of the same gender, who is already working in the field I am interested in?

A from Coach Colette:

In addition to exploring whether your company has a formal mentoring program, you should consider other external resources to find a mentor.

Find professional organizations that offer a supportive environment and opportunities for you to meet other women (or men -- depending on your goal).  Expand your network by attending activities and events where you can interact with your potential mentors (e.g., networking events, workshops, industry groups, alumni functions, sporting events, etc.).

Seek out champions and connectors in your existing network:

• A champion is someone typically higher up the ladder with whom you have worked and have a good rapport. This can be a former boss, partner, client, or even a supplier/vendor who would vouch for your capabilities. If your champion is internal to your company, s/he may be a great ally during the performance management process -- either s/he can share feedback directly with your manager or s/he can advise you on how best to navigate the process. If your champion works elsewhere, s/he may be a great reference as you seek new job opportunities.
• A connector is someone who seems to know everyone and who is willing to use their network on your behalf -- to make introductions and put you in touch with the right people in their network. Similar to above, your connectors can help you to meet influential people both within your existing company and outside the company but within your industry.

Take advantage of informal opportunities to connect with your champions and connectors for quick coffee breaks or lunch -- ask them if they would be willing to share their insights and expertise with you. Often, mentor relationships develop informally -- you just need be confident and willing to ASK for help and guidance.

When you receive business cards from your champions and connectors, write down their interests and goals on the back so you’ll remember what’s important to them. Then, you can share information that would be helpful or interesting to them.

Be a connector yourself – help your champions and connectors to meet relevant contacts in your network. Don't sell yourself or your contacts short -- too often, we think that mentoring and networking is only a one-way street. If your champions and connectors see you as someone who is helpful, they’ll be more likely to help you too.

What do YOU think? Have you had a mentor who has helped you to succeed? How did you find him/her? What was the best advice you received from your mentor? Let me know in the comments here or tweet me on Twitter.

How Can I Change My Career Path or Move to a New Industry?

Here's a photo from last month's coaching panel for City Tech alumni -- Today's Woman: Your Life, Career & Outfit. Pictured with me (L-R) are coaches Randi Cole and Shari Sambursky, along with event organizer Jessica Malavez.

Here's another career question posed by a participant at the event:

Q: What is the best way to change career paths or industries; i.e., how can I transition from a non-profit organization to a for-profit company?

A: from Coach Colette

Start by defining your ideal career vision -- to help you get a clear picture of what jobs will be most fulfilling and to screen companies or organizations during your job search. Try this on: just as they will be interviewing you to find the right fit for their company, you can be "interviewing" them to find the right fit for your career goals! Think about the elements that would shape your ideal work environment, the characteristics of the people you would prefer to work with, and the ways in which you would like to generate results and perform your responsibilities. Consider and complete the following statements:

* My ideal role would require I use which of my best skills and strengths?
* My ideal manager would be someone who ...
* My ideal work environment would have ...
* My ideal job/role would mean that I get to ...
* My ideal work-life balance would allow me to ...

Then, research who are the market leaders and successful companies in your target sector, and begin to identify where are the growth opportunities in your target industry. Begin to compare those companies to your idea career vision -- where do you find the greatest alignment or overlap? Also, discover which companies are hiring and review your network to find out who you know that works there (and/or can help you get connected to people there).

Determine which of your best skills and strengths would be of most value to this industry -- when you're moving to a different industry or sector, you may look to your transferable skills (skills that are valuable across different jobs or roles) -- and be able to explain why. Document examples of how you have used your best skills and strengths in your previous roles to add value to your current or former employers -- come up with as many quantifiable results as you can.

Identify relevant professional associations that have meetings and events in your area so that you can network and meet influential people in your target industry. Jump on the social networking bandwagon if you haven’t already (LinkedIn, Facebook, etc.).  If you’re looking to connect with someone in a specific company or industry, don’t be afraid to reach out directly or to be introduced by someone in your network.

Over the course of my professional career, I transitioned from the government sector to the non-profit sector to the corporate sector, and finally to entrepreneurship. In those moves, when I used aspects of the tips mentioned above, I had the best career experiences.

If you'd like more guidance on how to navigate your career in today's new normal, consider getting a copy of my Career Management Assessment and Career Management Workbook -- both available for purchase on my website.

How have YOU done it -- how have you made successful career transitions? Share your success stories and lessons learned here in the comments or tweet me on Twitter. And, keep an eye out for more Q&A from the coaches panel!

Can a Successful Career Woman Juggle Work, Life & Dating Without Making Sacrifices?

Last Thursday, I participated in a coaching panel sponsored by the City Tech Alumni Association called Today's Woman: Your Life, Career & Outfit to help women define their personal style and boost their confidence.

Source: citytech.cuny.edu via Coach_Colette on Pinterest

We received a number of questions from women at the event about how to navigate their careers, balance work-life commitments, find mentors and just stay motivated! I thought I'd share a few of the questions and my responses here on the blog so that you too can benefit -- and start Q4 off with a bang!

Q: "I recently read an article about women not being able to 'have it all.' How can a successful, young career woman juggle work life and dating without sacrificing one or the other?"

A from Coach Colette:

* Get clear ... and be HONEST about your priorities; and then, don't judge yourself for having them -- in whatever way and in whatever order they show up for you. Your priorities WILL change over time -- figure out what they are for you right now.
* When you choose actions that align with your priorities, you will feel more comfortable and less conflicted, because you are being true to yourself -- working in the direction of your desires, dreams and goals.
* When you choose actions that contradict your priorities, you will feel uncomfortable or even guilty because there is a part of you (deep inside; yes, it's that voice) that realizes you’re not honoring what you truly want.
* Once you've honestly defined your priorities, take a look at your schedule for the last 2 weeks. Does your schedule reflect your priorities; i.e., do you allocate time to the people and the tasks that are most important to you? Whatever answers you learn from reviewing your schedule, again, don't judge -- just observe.
* Set the intention to spend more time with the most important people (e.g., family, friends, significant other, or whomever you choose), and to start spending more time working on the most important activities that you find valuable and that contribute to your priorities. In the beginning, you may only be able to make small changes in your schedule, and that's OK. In Covey speak, we call that living "above the line" -- starting to focus more of your attention on activities and people that are important to you and your goals.
* Minimize time you spend on non-important activities (e.g., putting out fires or responding to interruptions) and avoid potential "time wasters" or excessive "escape" activities -- the time wasters and escape activities are different for everyone; figure out what they are for you.
* And, perhaps most important, as you begin to make these changes, talk to the most important people in your life, including the person you're dating, who will be affected by changes in how you will spend your time -- don't do this in a vacuum, share your reasoning and let them know why you're making the changes. Let them know how it can benefit them as you become more fulfilled and excited about what's going on in your life.

I'd love to hear your thoughts on my suggestions. What's your take on "having it all?" What have you tried to keep a good balance between your business/career and your personal interests?

Comment here on the blog or tweet me on Twitter. And, keep an eye out as I answer more career and life questions from the discussion.

Keep a Photo Journal to Reduce Your Stress

Did you know that journaling can help reduce stress? Studies have shown that journal writing has led to reduced anxiety, worry and depression.

Yet, sometimes even words aren't enough to fully express your emotions, thoughts -- let alone to fully document your goals or vision. Like they say ... a picture is worth 1,000 words!

Wouldn't it be great to have a site that allowed you to photo journal your goals and start your vision board?

I'm so excited to let you know about a NEW photo journal and vision board tool created by ShutterCal!

ShutterCal is an online, calendar-based daily photo journal (and vision board!).

As a coach, I think it's really important to keep track of your goals, intentions, and life vision -- for your own accountability and to get support from your network of champions and advisers.

Let's say you've set a goal in the next 30 days to lose 10 pounds, or to get physically active at least 4 days per week, or to meet 15 new people to expand your network, or to do ANYTHING that's important to you!

You can use your photo-a-day journal to track your goals in a creative and FUN way. It just means taking a moment each day to:

• STOP
• BREATHE
• NOTICE SOMETHING
• TAKE A PHOTO

ShutterCal will keep your photo journal / vision board organized. The ShutterCal community will keep you inspired with comments and feedback. And, through your daily photos, you will watch your story unfold into something truly amazing!

Deepak Chopra says: "Whatever you pay attention to will grow more important in your life." Use ShutterCal to pay attention to something you care about -- and create a visual timeline of your best moments!

Check out the site and let me know in the comments area below what you think -- and share your link when you sign up so I can watch your story unfold!

PS -- since the ShutterCal team and I are all LEAN Startup Weekend graduates, I'm able to offer you a 5% discount on their digital membership and a 10% discount on their print membership!!

How to Position Yourself in a Tight Job Market

Yesterday, I offered insights to participants at Tory Johnson's Women for Hire NY Career Expo in a Power Seminar on How to Position Yourself in a Tight Job Market. I thought I'd share some of the pointers from my talk here on the blog. I still believe that today's market provides an opportunity for you to reevaluate your priorities and refresh your game plan. So, in essence, my tips on positioning yourself in the market are more internally than externally focused.

We know that in today's New Normal keeping your head down, doing your work and just hoping that your efforts will get recognized won't help you land your next major job or business opportunity. I've spoken before about the value in developing 20/10 Vision: the ability to see things clearly at 20-feet that other people can only see from 10-feet away. It means developing your own bird's eye view of your target market, industry or opportunity.

Here are Four Steps to Develop Your 20/10 Career Vision. They are aligned with the steps in my eBook Focus on Your Vision.

1. Clear Your Lens: Remove Distractions -- Get centered and refocus on what's most important. Track your schedule over the next three (3) days to see how you REALLY spend your time, and begin to recognize the times of day when you're most productive. Why? Because then you'll be clear about when it makes sense to do your market/industry research; when to make "warm" calls to your champions and advisors; and when to make "cold" calls to industry leaders for informational interviews. Every company and industry has its own unique characteristics. In today's New Normal, you need to be an investigative reporter who explores and uncovers all the relevant issues, trends and opportunities.
2. Reveal Your True Intentions: Figure Out What You REALLY Want -- Revealing your true intentions can make it easier to choose between competing careers, jobs, tasks, and industries. Have you created a crystal clear vision of the type of job you want, the level of income you desire, the work environment in which you'll thrive, the qualities in your ideal manager or team? Do you know the values that reflect your personal attitude and work ethic? The more you know about your motivators, strengths, and values the easier it will be to attract opportunities that truly inspire you to perform.
3. Envision Your Future: Visualize Your Dream Job -- Imagine your world as it will be when you've landed your dream job -- do this proactively and consistently. What is your next best role? Write down positive affirmations of what you'll be able to do, what you will have accomplished once you've secured this position. Keep visual reminders to stay motivated -- create a vision board with inspirational images and quotes that reflect your dream job and ultimate lifestyle. Review it often.
4. Watch for Blind Spots: FLIP Your Script -- Even with the best laid plans, you will encounter setbacks -- both external roadblocks and even situations where you might get in your own way. My clients have told me about past situations where their inertia or indecisiveness led to missed opportunities. Listen to the things you say to yourself about your career, your job, and your chances of achieving your carer goals. How many are positive vs. negative? When you hear yourself repeating negative messages, say "STOP!" and replace the thought or message with a more positive statement. Do what you can to flip your script to get back on track to visualizing your dream job and ultimate lifestyle.

Let me know your thoughts and reactions, and also share your own success stories and tips -- here on the blog or tweet me @Coach_Colette.

Believe the Hype - Coach Colette is the NY Career Coach Examiner

If you're following me on Twitter, you may have noticed some tweets with links to Examiner.com. Just let me confirm – the rumors are true! I am the NY Career Coach Examiner.

I’m sure you’re not surprised that I’m writing about my passion for this subject and I can’t think of anything better than to share that passion with the millions of people who are perusing Examiner.com's content on a daily basis. Well, maybe one thing better, which leads me to my next point.

I would like to invite you to subscribe to my articles so you can stay in the loop; simply click on this subscribe link and you'll be notified whenever I publish a new article. Also, feel free to forward this link to anyone else you think might enjoy my articles. As always, thanks for your support!

In case you're wondering, I'll still continue to blog here about Competent Advantage and Stress Management topics, plus other insights gained from my coaching and consulting clients. [yes, you can breathe a sigh of relief now, LOL! :-) ] But, if you do have career-related questions, feel free to post them here or use the Ask Coach Colette feature on the website. I'll post and respond on my NY Career Coach Examiner site.

Earn More, Save More with our NEW Money & Career Coaching Tool

Here's a video describing my NEW multimedia coaching tool: Your Money, Your Career -- How to Thrive in Any Economy.

Your Money, Your Career will help you discover your strengths and realize new ways to promote your accomplishments to key decision makers in your industry. Your Money, Your Career also will help you reduce your anxiety about saving and investing and improve your personal relationship with money.

But, you must act quickly to reserve your copy BEFORE JUNE 30 to take advantage of our pre-launch pricing at http://bit.ly/moneycareer2.  Also, you can join us TUESDAY, JUNE 29 at 8PM ET for a FREE preview call to ask questions of all four contributors. Sign up for the call at http://yourmoney-yourcareer-preview.eventbrite.com/
 

 
Your Money, Your Career features audio downloads, my Competent AdvantageTM career assessment, a financial workbook AND a 30-day step-by-step action plan! It was created by four nationally recognized experts: yours truly, Coach Colette, financial coach and author Jacquette M. Timmons, and two other career coaches Jodi Brockington and Malla Haridat.
 
With a single purchase, you'll get a personalized game-plan -- to help you manage every aspect of your money and your career, in the New Normal. Reserve your copy online NOW to take advantage of the pre-launch pricing at: http://bit.ly/moneycareer2.

Then join us on the FREE Preview Call on Tuesday, June 29 at 8 PM ET!

Coach Colette to Speak at Women For Hire NY Career Expo - April 15

Social Media & Your Career: What's Your Strategy?
In today’s 2.0 world, social media has become a primary means of communicating information – like it or not! And, you know that to successfully market any product, image is everything. We decide what to buy based on the impression we have about a product’s quality and reputation. Often, we form our opinions from the product’s packaging – details we find on the label or features we've seen in a commercial.

As you know from our Competent Advantage TM program: "If you are embarking on a job search or seeking to advance in your industry, you are engaging in self-marketing. And, the product is YOU! The quality of your professional pitch can dramatically impact your success."

So, which social media outlets have you chosen to create a buzz about you and your accomplishments? LinkedIn, Twitter, or Facebook? Whom are you hoping to reach? What image or presence are you seeking to create?

All of these questions suggest that you develop a Strategic Social Media Strategy to help get your information in front of the “right” people in your target industry. For example, you need to be aware of the content of YOUR tweets and posts AND the people with whom you are linked — as 70% of HR executives indicate that they have disqualified candidates due to information they have found out about them via Internet searches. The implication here is HR executives do make judgments based on things they see/read about you on any website — even if it's not your own.
Want more ideas/suggestions?

On Thursday, April 15, 2010 at 10:30 AM, I’ll be leading a Power Seminar at the upcoming Women For Hire NYC Career Expo called: Social Media & The Job Search. Join me to learn 5 Key Tips to incorporate social media into your career management strategy.

For more information and to register, visit: http://www.womenforhire.com/career_expos/spring_2010/new_york

In addition, you’ll be able to meet Tory Johnson (founder of Women For Hire), connect with top employers and receive a resume critique. All that—and more—and it’s FREE! I look forward to seeing you in New York on April 15th!









The writer of this blog receives compensation when books featured herein are purchased from an ad.

Coach Colette is Fearless About Goal Setting - December 17

Hope you're having a great week. As you look ahead to 2010, what are your TOP 3 Priorities?

In 2009, many people were impacted by the downturn in the economy. Yet, hope springs eternal! There are many glimmers of hope to create new opportunities in 2010. Are you READY?


To be successful in growing your career, business (or side hustle), you must be able to reach the right people to let them know how your skills and talents add value and meet their needs.

Can you identify your next best GROWTH OPPORTUNITY?

TOMORROW, tune in at 11:00 AM EST for my appearance on Fearless Business TV, an interactive web-TV show hosted by Valerie Gurka. I'll be sharing tips to help you set SMART goals for 2010 and narrow down your long-term priorities into small, achievable steps.

Here are the details:

Thursday, December 17, 2009

11:00 AM - 12:00 PM EST

Watch ONLINE - Click HERE

AGENDA for Land Your Dream Job Teleclass - TONIGHT

Join me tonight at the FREE Land Your Dream Job teleclass TONIGHT at 8PM EST: http://bit.ly/4yWsMZ.  Here's the agenda of what you can expect:

• Introductions – Coach Colette Ellis and Simone Kelly-Brown of Own Your Power
• Coach Colette's Career Transition Story
• Intro of Competent Advantage™ Model – Exercises/activities:

            o Your Core Values: How They Relate To Your Work

            o Your Top 3 Strengths: How They Add Value to Target Market

            o Your Top 3 Champions: How They Can Help You Make Connections

            o Your WOW! Factor – How to Create a Buzz and Get Noticed

• Creative Visualization: Life With Your Dream Job
• Q & A and Info about FREE products/tools

Tweet me your search questions and join the discussion on Twitter using the #LYDJ hashtag.

Coach Colette Helps You Land Your Dream Job on December 10

In 2009, the battle for talent was fierce. The trend will likely continue into 2010. Are you ready? To be successful in a job search, you must be able to let the right people know what skills you have to offer. Can you position yourself strategically so that key decision makers will pick YOU?


Join us for a FREE, practical teleclass to learn how to leverage your top skills and talents, and communicate your WOW! Factor to prospective employers. This teleclass is co-sponsored by the Own Your Power Community.

Thursday, December 10, 2009

8:00 PM - 9:00 PM EST

Register NOW - Click HERE

Post your career and job search questions here on the Competent AdvantageTM blog, or tweet them to @Coach_Colette using the hastag: #LYDJ.

Coach Colette to Speak at Women For Hire DC Expo

I'm really excited about my upcoming presentation this Thursday at the Women for Hire Career Expo in Washington DC. Ironically, when asked to "pitch" my presentation, I decided to focus on Create a Buzz: Brand Yourself in 140-Characters (or less). You may recall that this was the subject of a recent blog post.

Well, I really had to practice what I'd pitched. How? After being accepted as a speaker, the marketing coordinator asked me for a 1-sentence bio and a 2-sentence description of my breakout seminar! I kid you not. Learning how to create short, compelling pitches is a skill you'll want to master whether you're in the job market or looking to reach new clients for your business.

Want to know what I wrote?
Title of presentation: Create a Buzz: Brand Yourself in 140-Characters or Less
1 sentence bio: “Coach Colette” Ellis helps leaders leverage their passion, power and relationships to achieve their personal and professional goals.
2 sentence description: If you’re looking for a new job, you’re engaging in self-marketing, and the product is YOU! Learn how to create a compelling pitch for your “brand” and use Social Media/Networking to help promote your goals and accomplishments.

If you know of any women job seekers in the DC area, please encourage them to attend this fantastic, FREE career expo. I'm looking forward to being amongst a group of fabulous movers-and-shakers who want to achieve meaningful results in their careers!

What 3 Words Will Define 2009?

I've been working to refine my 2009 Goals, as mentioned in my post from last week. Recently, I gained inspiration from a post I read on the Women'sDISH - DWC blog that led me to a challenge posed by social media guru, Chris Brogan. He suggests identifying 3 Words that encompass your 2009 goals.

The concept is brilliant because it forces you to think deeper [hint, you'll be seeing that word again soon] and broader than your specific tasks. It also helps you to create an affirmation or mantra that you can repeat to keep yourself motivated when you hit bumps along the road. Well, it wasn't easy, but I came up with my 3 Words -- started by reviewing business goals and brainstorming on what words could reflect those and give me some inspiration. So, here they are:

1. Deepen – my connections with my family and friends; and with my clients and the people I attract into my network and circle of influence to create a true InStep team
2. Platform – build a visible platform from which to share my knowledge, skills, gifts and abilities; and to promote the knowledge, skills, gifts and abilities of my team
3. Leverage – my power, passions, skills, abilities, gifts, network to build the business and world I desire

I've created a daily task in Outlook that will remind me to check my passions and reaffirm my 3 Words.

In addition, I've revisited my Strategic Attraction Plan to adjust for 2009 -- realized that a missing piece was concrete marketing goals. So, I'm raising the bar for number of blog posts and podcasts I'll create. And, I've added at least one target for direct marketing.

What are your 3 Words for 2009? What are your 2009 goals? Post or tweet me @Coach_Colette.

BTW, there's still time to share your 2009 goals on our survey to receive your FREE assessment (until January 15).

Coach Colette Reflects on 2008, Plans for 2009

Earlier in the month, I asked you: "How will you make 2009 better than 2008?", and to reflect on your Highlights and Low(er) lights of 2008. It occurred to me that I hadn't ponied up and shared my own insights.

So, I've decided to rectify that today by sharing some of my highlights for 2008, and the areas I want to channel some energy into to make 2009 a fantastic year! Here you go:

Highlights:

• Being selected as a national facilitator for Turning the Page on behalf of the Public Library Association, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation - traveling the country, meeting lots of FUN librarians, working with a great group of dynamic facilitators and cool PLA staff
• Leading two Stress Management sessions at the JI Group Good Life Festival & Retreat in St. Maarten - enough said!
• Co-sponsoring Get Canned! 2008 with Suzanne and the team from Milk & Honey Events - volunteering my coaching skills at a fun event to help job seekers and networkers who attended in the snow!
• Having an InStep facilitator teach two more successful Public Speaking courses for OBT - watching the trainees speak from the heart at the Debate Days is always a great reminder of why our public sector clients need our support

Areas to focus on for 2009 (FYI, these are based on my results from taking the Competent Advantage TM Business Assessment [yes, Coach Colette does "walk the talk"]):

• Creating an action-oriented plan to attract more revenues in 2009
• Creating an action-oriented plan to market our services more effectively in 2009
• Regularly requesting feedback from my peers, clients in 2009

On a personal note, I'm still working on the Passion Test. I must admit that what they say about the "cognitive dissonance" that's created by introducing new ideas to the brain is true [quoted from PT, introduced by neuroscientists Waldman & Newberg]. Of course, this all makes sense -- just re-wiring my brain to believe this is OK, LOL! :)

I'd still love to hear your insights and reflections on 2008, plans for 2009. Please post here or tweet me @Coach_Colette.

How Will You Make 2009 Better than 2008?

I've begun my period of year-end self reflection, and thought I'd share some thoughts and ask about your insights. Know Yourself is the first key component of the Competent Advantage model, as we know it's important to learn about the motivators, drives and values that inspire us and keep us going when the going gets tough.

Two external sources have been helpful for me on my self-reflection journey:

1. I came across a great article on the E-Myth Blog that offers some questions to help Identify Your Primary Aim. The "A-HA!" moment for me was the suggestion to forget about my business and focus on what I really want in LIFE (Yes, even the Coach can have a "DUH! Moment"). Otherwise, my business will become more like one of those "jobs" that many struggle to avoid.
2. While at the Library, I checked out a book to really help me drill down on these concepts called: The Passion Test: The Effortless Path to Discovering Your Life Purpose.

SO, as you reflect on 2008, how would you evaluate your accomplishments?

• What were the highlights? As strange as it may seem, it’s important to take note of things that you did well. Don’t be shy – write them down! Why? Because descriptions of your professional successes can come in handy at your year-end performance review with your manager, or on your next interview with a recruiter. And, keeping a journal of your personal wins can be very inspiring when you need a quick pick-me-up! Besides if you don’t write them down, you may forget subtle details that could make your story that much more compelling.


• What were the low(er) lights? It’s just as important to keep track of the things that didn’t go quite as well as you would’ve hoped. Why? Having a clear sense of what areas you’d to like improve can help you focus and channel your energies. It also will help you identify the resources you’ll need to make the changes become a reality.

Based on your reflection, what personal and professional goals will you set for yourself in 2009? Remember, that I'm offering you a FREE incentive to SHARE your goals with me in our 2009 Personal & Professional Development Survey.

What resources and experiences will you seek out to help you accomplish those goals? How about ...

• Classes, training or books


• Mentors or trusted advisors


• "Stretch" assignments or new opportunities


• Professional associations or social networks

As a life-long learner, I'm excited about continuing my year-end, self-reflection journey (it's really been an active and ongoing process this year). I know it will help me be a better advisor, business owner, coach, consultant, friend and person in 2009 -- and beyond!

I'd love to hear about your insights and reflections. Please post here or tweet me @Coach_Colette.

In Interviews, How Do You Back that Asset Up?

To keep on track with our getting back to basics strategy on career and personal development, I thought I'd provide some tips to answer an "oldie but goodie" interview question: What are your strengths (and weaknesses)?

Check out this quick video featuring my hints on how to respond to both sides of the question. And, let me know what you think -- post your thoughts and comments here, or tweet Coach Colette on Twitter.

Has the question about your weaknesses ever tripped you up? When, sharing your strengths, how do you back that asset up? [just checking to see if you're really paying attention here, LOL!]

Given we're at the end of the year, how would preparing to answer this question help you in a performance review conversation with your manager/supervisor?

Watch the video and let me know if you get some clues or ideas!

Coach Colette Gets Canned on December 16th!

OK, now that I have your attention, let me tell you about an exciting career and social networking event on Tuesday, December 16, from 7:00 - 10:00 PM called Get Canned.

Get Canned is a charitable, social networking event to help you expand your contacts and discover your next professional opportunity in 2009. It will be held at e l e m e n t, a funky venue in lower Manhattan.

Being laid off, or 'getting canned,' rarely has a positive side to it; but, Get Canned takes a positive spin and embraces the theme - collecting canned goods for the Food Bank for New York City in place of a cover charge to attend the event.

Coach Colette is IN!

I'll be on hand in the Elevation Lounge to answer your questions and offer complimentary laser-coaching sessions. Get the guidance and support you need to face (and embrace) your career transition! One lucky raffle winner will win a FREE CAREER COACHING PACKAGE!

You CAN do it – I did!

Nearly six years ago, I found out that my position would be eliminated because of a company merger. Ironically, that was my second "downsizing" experience within 13 months! The way I saw it, I had two choices [now I know there were many others too!]:

1. Attempt to find another job

2. Attempt to sell my skills on the “open market” as a consultant

What did I do? I leveraged my contacts and skills, and chose the latter option. I’ve spent the past six years building my consulting and coaching practice to the level it is today. Come to Get Canned on December 16 to learn how you too can transition into success in 2009!

Healthy mind -- healthy body -- healthy career!

Equinox Fitness will have personal trainers onsite to answer your questions and help plan your 2009 fitness routine. They're donating a FREE MEMBERSHIP pass to the raffle!

Join me on Tuesday, December 16 at element for Get Canned!

Register TODAY and stop by to say hello. Don't forget to bring two non-perishable canned food items for FREE admission!

Share Your 2009 Goals, Get FREE Assessment

The holiday spirit has inspired me a bit early this year. Since I know there may be some who'll be looking for low (or NO) cost gift items, I've decided to participate in the Esculon GIFT FEST, a blog holiday carnival in which bloggers offer FREE gifts and FUN contests. What does that mean for you?

Well, if you complete our Online 2009 Professional Growth Survey and share your professional goals for next year, you'll receive a FREE Competent Advantage TM Assessment. AND, I've decided to offer you EITHER a Career Self-Assessment OR a Business Assessment -- depending on what your goals are.

So, if you're focusing on improving your Career, then you can get a FREE Career Self-Assessment to help plan your 2009 strategy. If you're thinking about launching or expanding your "side hustle" into a business, then you can get a FREE Business Assessment to help identify your 2009 priorities. Instructions on how to receive your FREE assessment are at the end of the Professional Growth Survey.

Does it seem a bit early to be thinking about next year's goals? It really isn't (especially for those of you who will be having year-end performance review conversations). By the time the holidays really get here, you'll likely be focusing on other things. Take some time to plan for yourself NOW.

I also thought it would be cool to create a community of support -- your own group of online cheerleaders -- and keep track of what we'll all be working on next year. So, you can also share a quick response about your 2009 professional goals in the poll below.








Click HERE to take the full, online 2009 Professional Goals survey. Post your goals or tweet me @Coach_Colette.

Podcast with Career Management Tips

I've spent time today catching up with all of my social networking sites and can't help but notice the multiple conversations surrounding the economy -- and the personal impact it's having on many people.

Since this is the time to revisit our career management plans and think about what needs to be "tweaked," I thought I'd help us focus and get back to basics on career and personal development. On the Competent Advantage TM podcast channel, I've posted a recording of one of my Career Management teleclasses. In it, we review the components of the Competent Advantage TM model and share tips for each area.

Take a listen to the podcast and share your thoughts and "A-HA!" moments. Also, post/share your email address if you'd like to receive a copy of the teleclass worksheet to follow along.

Given our current situation, I think it's also relevant to consider some NEW questions related to the Competent Advantage TM model:

1. Know Yourself -- Which of your priorities have SHIFTED in this new economic climate? [That's OK -- it's just important to recognize and own it.]
2. Know Your Market -- What NEW or alternative industries/markets can benefit from your skills and talents?
3. Leverage Your Strengths -- What network connections can you STRENGTHEN to help you in your current role/situation?
4. Create a Buzz -- How can you MAXIMIZE your Web 2.0 presence to let people know what you're doing and/or how you have succeeded?

What NEW ideas or strategies have you implemented?

Summer Career Coaching Group Begins July 15

I've decided to start a Master Chameleon Career Coaching Group this summer. Why?

As a coach in today’s ever-changing economy, I feel compelled to create a safe space for people to learn, grow, discover and even vent a little [in a constructive way!]. And, to help them recognize how to adapt their skills and their “buzz” to find their next adventure – in a way that doesn’t compromise what they believe in and value.

Where does the chameleon concept come from? Five and half years ago, I received notification that my position would be eliminated because of a recent company merger. Ironically that was the second such notification I’d received within 13 months. The way I saw it, I had two choices [now I know there were many others too!]:

1. Attempt to find another job
2. Attempt to sell my skills on the "open market" as a consultant

What did I do? I leveraged my contacts and skills, and chose the latter option. I’ve spent the past five years building my consulting (and now) coaching practice to the level it is today. For me, the chameleon concept is really at the heart of the Competent Advantage TM model.

How can you "change colors" or adapt your skills/talents/abilities to add value to an organization? But, what's most important, is how can you stay true to your personal and professional goals, motivators and values?

So, that's what I'm hoping this Master Chameleon Coaching Group will help people to explore. Because, I think the real lessons I learned about career transition came from my first “downsizing” experience, which came without warning [or so I thought!].

What did I do that time? I panicked. I spent a good two to three weeks in partial denial and seclusion. I was embarrassed and ashamed that “it” had happened to me. I eventually came out of hiding, began to establish new contacts and expand my network and think about what I wanted to do. Through these efforts, I successfully “landed” approximately three months later.

Do you know people who could benefit from this supportive, transformational experience? Could you? If so, join us for 4-weekly tele-sessions plus structured activities and online support. Don't be like everyone else who takes the summer off, empower yourself NOW!