Making a career change?

Determine the Job You Want

The very first thing you need to do is determine the exact thing you want to do in your job. If you really have no idea, first make a list of the things you like to do and the things that you feel are a strength for you. If you are still struggling with an idea, consider reading: Finding Your Career Passion.

If you already have an idea — you are a marketing major, but just aren’t sure what in marketing you would like to do — then your next step is investigating various job titles in your area of interest.

Determine Where You Want to Live

Are you open to relocating, or do you have a very specific geographic location in mind? If you have a specific location in mind, then your next step is identifying the companies that have offices/plants/locations in those areas. Probably the best way to identify these companies is through local chambers of commerce or other business directories.

If you are opening to relocating, then you can move on to the next step.

Determine the Best Companies for You

You need to make some decisions about the types of companies that fit your needs, style, and personality. Examine such issues as the size of the company, corporate culture, management style, employee empowerment, and other issues of importance to you. Not sure of exactly what you’re seeking in an employer? Take our Workplace Values Assessment to learn more about what you seek in an employer.

Determine the Job You Want

The very first thing you need to do is determine the exact thing you want to do in your job. If you really have no idea, first make a list of the things you like to do and the things that you feel are a strength for you. If you are still struggling with an idea, consider reading: Finding Your Career Passion.

If you already have an idea — you are a marketing major, but just aren’t sure what in marketing you would like to do — then your next step is investigating various job titles in your area of interest.

Determine Where You Want to Live

Are you open to relocating, or do you have a very specific geographic location in mind? If you have a specific location in mind, then your next step is identifying the companies that have offices/plants/locations in those areas. Probably the best way to identify these companies is through local chambers of commerce or other business directories.

If you are opening to relocating, then you can move on to the next step.

Determine the Best Companies for You

You need to make some decisions about the types of companies that fit your needs, style, and personality. Examine such issues as the size of the company, corporate culture, management style, employee empowerment, and other issues of importance to you. Not sure of exactly what you’re seeking in an employer? Take our Workplace Values Assessment to learn more about what you seek in an employer.

Your Job Search Strategy

Sunday:  Review and apply to help wanted ads online and/or in classifieds (If your local paper comes out on a different day, start this schedule from that day and change the below dates accordingly…)

Monday:  Call those ads that request a call and obtain directions/additional information for ads asking to apply in person

Tuesday: Apply in person, return calls of employers who called, attend any job development / training meetings, review job seeking skills material online/participate in groups.

Wednesday:  Cold calls and practice interviewing, other job seeking skills training

Thursday:  follow up calls with any outstanding employers, work force technology job search

Friday:  Networking – Call friends and identify employers who are hiring.  Call and follow up with Staffing agencies you registered with

Don’t forget to take regular breaks, eat meals (not at your desk or while doing anything else), and go outside daily.  Volunteering is a great way to have something to look forward to and provides good social feedback.

 'I'd love to hear from you! Comment below....

Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM
lifeworks@mail.com
Professional, Rehab, & Occupational Services, LLC
http://www.life-works.info
http://www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysevinsky
Landline 302.644.1827 | Mobile: 410.444.1989 | Skype Mary E. Sherwood

Let me know how you are doing or how I can help! 

Comment below or reach out. 

UNEMPLOYED NEED GUIDANCE TO RETURN TO WORK

Job seekers who are currently unemployed need career guidance to address issues only they experience due to their unique situation.  I recently asked a client I am currently assisting to complete a brief survey about his job search concerns.  He was asked to list three answers for each question.  

Of special note, one of my clients wrote, "I feel there should be a websites for mature adults who have worked all their lives.  Give us a chance."  Very moving....There was no way I could turn my back on this request and created www.jobsearchfortherestofus.com.  On this website, you will find articles of interest to the unemployed.  Here you will find job search, resources, coping ideas, and other articles to help move you forward and put the work loss behind you. 

Here is what I asked my current clients – How would you answer?

 

What do you miss about working?

What are some of your biggest job search obstacles?

What are your biggest job search fears?

Most of the answers were along the lines of what I expected to hear - I have been counseling the unemployed for a long time... I want to assure you that you are not alone and what you are feeling is entirely normal!

Here are some of the answers I got to my brief survey:

What do you miss about working?

 Being out in public and seeing people

 Filling up my day with different activities

 Earning money, having freedom, and independence

 Having something to look forward to

 Doing something I'm good at

What are some of your biggest job search obstacles? 

 Use of my injured body part

 Memory and concentration

 Lack of skills

 Finding a job in a new field or industry

 Age

What are your biggest job search fears?

 Not being able to do the job

 Interviewing

 Not being able to make enough money

 Not being hired

 Learning new skills

I'd love to hear from you! Comment below....

Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM

lifeworks@mail.com

Professional, Rehab, & Occupational Services, LLC

http://www.life-works.info

http://www.injuredworkerhelpdesk.com

https://www.linkedin.com/in/marysevinsky

Landline 302.644.1827 | Mobile: 410.444.1989 | Skype Mary E. Sherwood

Read another great article: difficult doesn't mean impossible!

Let me know how you are doing or how I can help! 

Comment below or reach out. 

New Social Resume

Visit CareerCloud.com to get your own....

Online Resume Preparation Tool

The right resume can open doors for your career. However, creating a professional resume on your own is not always easy. This is why we offer an online resume preparation tool. Using this tool, you can easily create an informative resume that looks clean and modern. Our tool is user-intuitive, so virtually anyone can create a resume for their dream job or position.

Our resume building tool has several different sections, such as contact information, experience, skills, and education. All you need to do is input your information into the appropriate boxes, and our program will automatically complete the layout for you. This way, you don’t have to worry about formatting or templates. There are even several options available, so you can choose from something more casual or more elegant. As long as you use the right information, you’ll end up with a professional document that will impress any hiring manager.

The program will give you several options once your resume has been completed. For your convenience, you can either print out your resume for immediate use, save it to your hard drive, or even send it directly to yourself or a hiring manager via email. Whether you need a resume right now or if you are making one proactively, there is an option to suit your needs. 

Click here to get started now!

Don't forget to ask me for a free resume review once you have completed your new resume!  Just send me an email or schedule a free introductory consult.

online scheduling - by BookFresh

The Importance Of A Great Cover Letter

Cover letters are an important part of the job application process. They serve as an introduction to the hiring manager and briefly outline your interest in the position. The right cover letter can help you land your dream job, so it needs to be professional. Our cover letter preparation tool can help you create the best cover letter for your job hunt.

Our cover letter template helps you get started by having an appropriate letter already written out for you. All you need to do is fill in the blanks with your information, the information about the company you are applying to, and more. It is also flexible, so if you want to create your own letter, that option is available. There are three different design layouts available as well, so you can choose one that reflects your own style.

When you are finished creating your cover letter, you can decide how you want to receive the file. For in-person applications, print out a copy and keep it with your resume. For online applications, you can email your cover letter directly. You can also save your created letter to your hard drive as a document or PDF file for future use. 

---

Click here to get started now!

Wilmington Career Fair - Meet me there!

https://www.facebook.com/events/376129772559033/

Need help in the meantime, no problem!

online scheduling - by BookFresh

Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM

Mary@Life-Works.Info
Occupational Consultant Landline 302.644.1827

Mobile:  410.444.1989  

Let’s Connect:

LinkedInTwitter
Facebook

Careerealism

JOB SEARCH FOR THE REST OF US Group on Linkedin: http://lnkd.in/dB5sATb

How to write detail in your resume

Your resume will be read by the employer three times#1 Deciding your resume goes in the

Keep or Discard Pile

#2 Deciding if you are an actual candidate

#3 When called for an interview – to write questions to ask or to refer to during the meeting

Here is a good and short article that helps to guide how you should approach writing details in your resume:  http://lifehacker.com/improve-your-resume-with-this-simple-formula-recommende-1566107526 in short it says:  "The key is to frame your strengths as: 'I accomplished X, relative to Y, by doing Z.”

Achievements:  Objective information about your abilities – Won Best Employee of the Year Award 3 out of 4 years OR Numbers based information about your abilities – Handled 40 accounts concurrently or reduced anticipated costs by 40% (more info here: http://jobsearch.about.com/od/resumewriting/a/resumewow.htm)

Soft Skills:  Qualities rather than skills - personal attributes that enable someone to interact effectively and harmoniously with other people. Can also include qualities that make you a good worker – Creative, Persistent, Problem Solver, Team Player, Leader, etc  (more info here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Soft_skills)

The Anatomy of the Perfect Science & Medical Temporary Employees (STEM)

Because of the uncertainty in the economy, companies are relying heavily on temporary employees and leading the charge are the science and medical industries (STEM).

Our guide looks at the attributes that make for a perfect STEM employee.

15 ways to overcome procrastination and get stuff done

Toot your own horn to get ahead in your career

Toot your own horn to get ahead in your career Dec 8, 2014 64Views 1Like 0CommentsShare on LinkedInShare on FacebookShare on Google PlusShare on Twitter So often when I work with clients I find that one of the most difficult things I ask them to do is to think about what makes them stand out from other candidates. The questions and answers may be slightly different depending upon if we are working on a resume, LinkedIn profile, interview preparation, or
career planning. Read more...

Make it a Giving Holiday with an E-Gift Card for Career Services

Do you have a friend, relative, or loved one who is out of work, under-employed, or just plain miserable at work?
Give them a gift that will really mean something and get the new year started out on the right foot…

Visit us on Facebook...
Post by Professional, Rehab, and Occupational Services.

DelMarValous

Many of our DelMarVa neighbors come here as a part of a retirement plan, but may not have much of a plan at all.  Dreams of enjoying life near the beach or in more rural areas may have been dampened by the unexpected expense of actually living here full time.  Or, worse, by boredom!

Many of my 55+ clients are bored and miss the social aspects of working. However, there are not a lot of jobs out there and the ones that are available are quickly snapped up.

Read More

JUST SAY NO!: Address on your resume, that is...

I just finished a familiar conversation with a new resume client that went something like: 

CLIENT:  My address is missing from my resume!  I have never seen a resume without a street address.

CAREER COACH:  Resumes are so public these days...  I am advising my clients not to include their street address unless it is required and provided to a specific employer.  Unless you want your home address posted all over the internet? 

CLIENT:  That makes sense; I don't want my home address posted on the internet.  I haven't really seen that many resumes anyway....Thanks!

Your home address may not be all that difficult to find anyway (I suggest you look), but do you really want to spoonfeed additional information to would-be identity thieves?  Rapists? Stalkers? Old loves? (ok, possibly one or two, but...).

The bottom line is you don't need to include a street address unless it is requested.  If you are applying for a government position or an academic program, you may want or be required to include it.  Otherwise, City and State are probably enough. 

With our global economy shrinking the way it is - it may not even be necessary to list a location, especially if your field IS global or internet-based.  Like anything else you include in your resume, you should ask if the information:

1. Adds value to the resume
2. Is meaningful to the reader
3. Adds to the message you want to send

Save your valuable resume real estate and make your name and/or other contact information stand out more, if nothing else.  Above all, be mindful and safe about what you share on the internet; it could mean your money or your life (literally)!

What should you expect when working with a recruiter?

At some point, many job seekers consider working with recruiters, but don't know what to expect.  Here a is an infographic that spells things out!

The Home Office Revolution Infographic

Practical tips for getting started using LinkedIn

 LinkedIn can seem mysterious or even  daunting when you first start using it - there are a lot of features that you can use to your benefit.  But, if you have just created your profile or  are revisiting LinkedIn after initially setting up a profile you never revisited, you may be thinking what now?  (If you need help creating or optimizing your LinkedIn account, let me know!)

 To get started you don't need to use every feature or spend hours everyday on LinkedIn. A few minutes each day will result in staying more current and more connected without too much trouble  Here is some basic info on how to use LinkedIn:

To benefit from LinkedIn you will really need to start being more active and share information frequently – even if it is just sharing something someone else posts.  I always make sure to post lots of stuff my clients can share with their “connections” just to stay on their radar; it also helps attract new contacts as they find you via your similar posts.

For example,

you might share an article on career management from me to one

of your connections, who in turn may share it

That second  person may be someone who 

has an interest in managing his or her career

and would like to do business with you

but only found you via me, who has nothing to do with your industry!

More here:

http://www.deborahshanetoolbox.com/the-linkedin-daily-workplan/

Take Care and Talk to You Soon!

Mary Sherwood, MS, CDMS, CCM
Occupational Consultant Phone 302.644.1827

Mobile:  410.444.1989                                                     

Schedule Time or Write a Review

Website: www.Life-Works.Info

www.about.me/marysevinsky

Let’s Connect:

LinkedInTwitter
Facebook

Careerealism

JOB SEARCH FOR THE REST OF US Group on Linkedin: http://lnkd.in/dB5sATb

Mary Sherwood Selected as Community Partner at next Delegate Sponsored Job Fair

Thank you Delegates for allowing me the opportunity to contribute career education and resume review!

Carper, Coons, Carney to host job fair in New Castle County on September 5

Delegation hosting job skills workshop leading up to job fair

Wilmington, Del. – To take advantage of the nation’s continuing economic recovery and to assist local businesses in helping them find employees, U.S. Senators Tom Carper and Chris Coons, and U.S. Representative John Carney announced today, in partnership with Brandywine Counseling and Community Services, they will host a job fair on Friday, September 5 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Delaware Technical & Community College Wilmington campus (333 N. Shipley Street Wilmington, Delaware 19801).

A day prior to the job fair, the delegation will host a job skills workshop from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Wilmington Library (10 East 10^th Street). The sessions will cover resume building, interview skills and dressing for success. There will also be a room arranged like a job fair for participants to get a feel for how a job fair works. Community partners who are hosting the seminars include Career Team, Mary Sherwood and One Village Alliance.  Read More

Interview Soft Skills: What no one tells you

Rather view the video? Click here.

If you are looking for work, you no doubt have read many articles about how to interview, how to answer interview questions, and what not to do in an interview.  These are the nuts and bolts of what you need to know to be successful in an interview, to be sure!

But, what is not so often discussed, written about, or even thought of is what I think of as “Interview Soft Skills.”  These are the skills that you and others may assume you already have or no about.  Many of the clients I work with, though don’t.

If you haven’t interviewed in a while or have never interviewed (believe it or not I have some clients who have been lucky enough to glide through several jobs without a formal interview), you will certainly want to review these soft skills and make sure you are on point for your next interview.

Hopefully it isn’t tomorrow.  The time to be preparing for an interview is well before you are scheduled for one.  If you want to nail your interview then you start preparing for the interview when you start looking for a job!

Here are some of the soft skills you need to be hired after your next interview. Links to full article to read more on Examiner.com are included:

Preparing for an interview is not enough – you really need to over prepare. Interview Tip #1.

Take notes and plan ahead for taking notes during the interview Tip #2.

Have appropriate, comfortable clothes to wear Interview Tip #3.

Interview Tip #4 stresses the importance of visiting the location the day before.

 Tip #5 is relax – you just can’t cram for an interview.

During an interview it is important to breathe – to avoid saying um and to calm your nerves Tip # 6.

Tip #7 Strike a pose  gives tips for managing awkward moments or long pauses.

Smile! To put the interviewer at ease and to come across as pleasant Tip #8. 

Tip #9 -  Ask questions to lay the groundwork for a conversational interview.

Watch your body language Tip #10.

Videos corresponding to each tip can be found on Youtube.com and Slide Share.

Good Luck!

Here is a list of resources for possible interview questions and other resources:

Articles in my blog

Articles on CAREEREALISM

Articles on the Web

Interviewing Soft Skills: The very basics of interviewing

Many experts talk about how to answer interview questions and, a few, how to dress or write a thank you note.  But, if you haven't interviewed for a while (or ever), you may want to make sure you have the very basics of interviewing - Interview Soft Skills.

Here is a series of articles I wrote for examiner.com.  Corresponding videos are available on Youtube.  Practice - really over-preparing (see Interview Tip #1),  Prepare your notes (Tip #2), Have appropriate, comfortable clothes to wear (see Interview Tip #3), Interview Tip #4 shared the importance of visiting the location the day before, and Tip #5, was to relax. They all addressed preparation and tips for before the interview.  Tip # 6 (Breathe), Tip #7 Strike a pose,  Tip #8 Smile,  Tip #9 -  Ask Questions and Interview Tip #10 (Watch your body language) deal with that nerve racking During-The-Interview period.

I hope you are preparing for an upcoming interview and find this information helpful.  If you need help, just let me know!  Email me. Good Luck!

Here is a list of resources for possible interview questions and other resources:


Articles in my blog
Articles on CAREEREALISM
Articles on the Web

Mary Sherwood Sevinsky

Mary is a CAREER AND OCCUPATIONAL CONSULTANT who is masters-prepared and certified. She is a business owner with nearly 20 years of experience in Corporate Management, Career Assessment & Counseling and in writing Career Articles and Educational Materials.

She has worked as a CORPORATE MANAGER experienced in hiring, firing and managing a staff of professionals with a multimillion dollar budget. She enjoys WRITING AND EDITING and has spent many years developing Marketing Materials and Presentations, Writing Proposals and Plans, and Conducting Staff Development Sessions in addition to working as a vocational consultant. Learn more about Mary and her services: www.life-works.info.

Delaware Congressional Delegation Job Fair

Thursday September 4^th

Job Skills Training Workshops

10am-2pm

Wilmington Library

***The purpose of the workshop is to provide job seekers with information on interviewing, dressing for success, and resume building in preparation for Friday’s job fair.

Friday September 5^th

Congressional Delegation Job Fair

10am-2pm

Delaware Technical and Community College, Wilmington

U.S. Senator Christopher A. Coons

1105 N. Market Street Suite 100|Wilmington, DE 19801

302.573.6345|website: coons.senate.gov

See the latest at http://coons.senate.gov/blo