Laura Allan Career Coaching

Help! My Boss Takes Credit for My Work!

2011-10-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

I recently had a client bring up an issue where their directmanager had blocked the client’s access to the next level up, and thenproceeded to misrepresent what work was done by my client versus, what was doneby their manager.

For ease of reading I’ll call the client Marissa, the directmanager Bob, and the manager’s boss Sue. The real gender of the players is notimplied by their fictitious names.

In some ways, Marissa wasn’t too upset about this situation,as she believed that others in the organization knew who was really doing thework. But then an opportunity for a promotion to a newly created position cameup, and Marissa realized that Bob’s boss, Sue, did not really know what hercontribution, experience and skills were, and that would influence whether ornot she was considered for this position that she very much wanted – and waswell qualified for.

So, what to do?

Marissa was worried that going directly to Sue would beviewed as insubordination by Bob, as she had been specifically told to channeleverything through him. In addition, howdid Marissa let Sue know about the work she had done without highlighting that Bobhad taken credit for work that was not his?

My solution was for Marissa to schedule a meeting with Sueto discuss the newly created position, approaching from a perspective ofwanting to find out more about the position, what the duties and qualificationswere, and what Marissa specifically would need to do to be considered for theposition by Sue.

Since the new position reported directly to Sue, it would bereasonable that this is who Marissa should meet with to get more information,thus getting around the moratorium Bob had placed on direct contact with Sue.

Secondly, by starting with asking questions about theposition, Marissa is not yet sharing anything about who did what in the past,merely gathering information. This thenopens the door for Marissa to respond with examples of her work when told whatqualifications were required for the position. It’s a softer, more indirect route to say “hey – I’m the one who didthat, not Bob” and in the context of what Marissa really cares about: the newposition.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

Should You Stay or Should You Go - Your Current Job 10/16 by Laura Allan | Blog Talk Radio

2011-10-17T10:01:00.000-07:00

Not sure whether you should stay in your current job or pursue something different? Learn the signs that you may need a new job - or a new career - on this BlogTalk Radio program.

Should You Stay or Should You Go - Your Current Job 10/16 by Laura Allan | Blog Talk Radio

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

How to Write a Great Resume

2011-10-12T11:02:00.000-07:00

If you're in the market for a new job, the quality ofyour resume can make all the difference. With careful planning andproper formatting, you can write a great resume that just may land you yourdream job.

Here are some quick resume tips to get you on your way:

1. Bebrief. Your goal is to get your point across quickly and effectively. Don'tfill your resume with fluff. Chances are your potential employer won'thave a lot of time to read every detail, so stick with the meat.

2. Startwith action verbs. If you start your sentences with action verbs in thepast tense, you'll be stating your past jobs in a brief, yet effective, way.

An example would be using a sentence that starts with "Managed" or "Coached" instead of starting a description with "I was a manager of a sales team."

3. Targeting.Make sure that your resume and cover letter reflect your interest in the jobyou want. This means you'll want to place all the relevant job information atthe top or at the head of a section where it's most likely to be seen.

Oftentimes the manager won't be the first one to read your resume. Target your information so you make the first cut.

4. Keywords.Include the relevant keywords associated with the position you're seeking.Tweak your resume to include the job title you want as well as the keywordsassociated with your potential job functions.

This is especially important because employers may be searching for your resume online by querying these specific keywords.

5. BulletPoints. It's important to break up your text with bullet points to avoidlengthy paragraphs. This also helps employers gain the information they need while quickly skimmingyour resume.

6. OnePage. You probably have a lot to say on your resume. Even if you keep yourresume to the main points, you may be tempted to submit a resume that's severalpages long. Don't give in to this temptation! If you need to trim down, trydeleting some of the items not relevant to the job.

If you must go beyond the one page rule, keep the resume to two pages, maximum.

7. Don'tget fancy. There's no need to provide intricate designs or colored texturedpaper. It's recommended that you stick to white paper. You'll stand out to youremployer because of the fantastic skills listed on the paper, not because ofthe quality paper itself or the unique font you picked.

8. Explainyour skills. Don't just provide a laundry list of your skill set. Youcan still remain brief while explaining how your skills can benefit thecompany. This tip alone can greatly improve your chances of gettingnoticed.

9. Tweakyour template. You may have found a template to use online to build yourresume. These can be useful to help you get an idea of what a resume shouldinclude. However, you shouldn't copy and paste because other applicants may beusing the same template.

If you want to stand out to your employer, you don't want to risk looking like everyone else.

10. Avoidsilly mistakes. Be sure to go over the final copy thoroughly. Itmay help to have a professional or trusted friend read it first beforesubmitting. Be sure your resume is grammatically correct and avoid typos at allcosts.

If you keep these tips in mind, you'll be well on your wayto landing that dream job. Now the only thing you'll need to think about is theinterview!

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

Keeping Your Self-Esteem after a Job Loss

2011-10-10T09:15:00.000-07:00

If you've lost your job, there's no denying that it can be adevastating ordeal. It can be a real burden, especially when your whole familydepended on that job and the income it provided.

However, you can find the strength to recover from atragic job loss. Sometimes it's difficult to find the silver lining,but it's always there waiting to be discovered.

Focusing On Your Self-Esteem

Your thoughts are very powerful. Sometimes youmay think that you don't have control over your thoughts, but you always do. Of course you should give yourselftime to recover from the initial shock of a job loss, but it's how you choose toreact afterwards that makes all thedifference.

When you focus on developing positive self-esteem, you'll beable to think clearly and confidently so you can figure out what your next stepsare going to be. You may even use this new opportunity to finally follow yourdream job.

Have these tips in mind to keep your self-esteem intact:

1. Giveyourself time to grieve. Sometimes you don't think of job loss as being thesame as other types of loss, but the shock can be the same and you should allowyourself some time to go through the standard stages of grief. You'll eventuallyrecover from the shock, but give yourself an appropriate amount of timeto absorb the situation.

2. Lookfor a support system. You might feel especially alone after losing yourjob. Your initial reaction might be to run and hide and keep your emotionsinside. Be sure to fight this feeling and, instead, rely on your supportsystem. Remember: it's okay to ask for help, that's what your support networkis for!

3. Keepup your motivation. After the shock has worn off, it's important to strivefor a certain level of enthusiasm and motivation to find another job. You needto believe in yourself and trust that things will turn out for the best. Rememberthat your new job might be even better than your last one!

4. Lookingfor a new job. When you're ready to start the search, consider all of youroptions. You may want to consider whether or not you really enjoyed the fieldyou were in before. Consider your job loss as a new opportunity. Maybe you'd liketo try bringing your life into a different direction.

5. Keepan eye on your finances. When you deal with job loss, you must also dealwith the financial realities. Determine your current financial situation andhow long you have until you must return to work. Maybe you have to find a jobright away, or perhaps you have enough savings to consider other careeroptions. Whatever the case may be, you should know what the financialimplications mean to you and your family.

New Life: New Opportunities

After dealing with job loss, the best thing you can do is tothink of it as a new opportunity in life. Sure, you didn't chooseto embark on this path at this particular time, but it's important to roll withthe punches.

Don't be afraid to take risks. Also, don't be afraid toadopt the attitude that everything happens for a reason. Bad things happen inlife, but good things happen too. Stay strong for yourself andyour family and your self-esteem will prevail.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

How to Make Ends Meet When You're Facing Sudden Job Loss

2011-10-05T13:20:00.000-07:00

In today's economy,the thought of losing your job is a real possibility. Perhaps you're already inthat situation. But don't despair, there are things you can do and placesyou can go to help you through this tough time.

The first place youmust go is to your unemployment agency. You may even be able to apply forbenefits online. Either way, contacting them is the first step you need totake. Theunemployment agency provides financial benefits to those who qualify and they'llhelp you find another job.

Many statesare now offering programs that extend unemployment benefits so you can go backto school and learn a new trade or skill. Be sure to ask your local agent aboutany special programs they're currently offering.

Although they canmake a significant difference in the short-term, unemployment benefits areusually much lower than your normal salary. However, there are many other sources you canalso take advantage of to help you get by during this rough financial time.

Let's look at some of your options:

1. Reducemonthly expenses.Take a serious look at some of the things you can live without for a whileuntil you get back on your feet. Go through all of your bills and expenses andcut out the things that aren't necessities. Be honest with yourself - just becauseyou think you can't live without your cable or cell phone, doesn't mean it'strue. Some of the first places to lookinclude:

· Television

· Phones- both cell and land line

· Celltexting or other data communications

· Transportation

· Eatingout

· Powerusage

· Airconditioning and heating

2. Save money by meal planning. You can save over $100 (based ona family of 4 with bi-monthly pay periods) on each trip to the grocery storesimply by planning meals ahead, using coupons and shopping your grocer's weeklysales flyers.

· Notonly will you reduce how much you spend on food, but you'll probably reducesome weight around your waistline as well. Who couldn't use that added benefit?

3. Waiting tables. One of the fastest ways to earnsome quick cash is to wait tables. This may not be glamorous, but it can bringin some immediate cash, and many restaurants beef up staff for the summer months.

4. Community agencies. If you're in dire straits andneed assistance right now, there are many local agencies you can turn to foraid. The United Way and Salvation Army are located in most areas and offer avariety of programs that may be able to help you.

· Yourarea may have different agencies, so check online or in the phone book for theones in your community.

5. Government agencies. Besides the unemployment agency,most areas have a Department of Human Resources, Social Services, or HealthDepartment that can help or guide you to assistance.

6. Sell items on eBay. Take a good look around your home,shed, or garage. How many boxes do you have lying around filled with stuff younever use? You'll be surprised at what people will pay for what you considerjunk!

7. Have a yard sale. You can make a nice chunk ofchange by selling off furniture, clothing, and other household items you don'tuse anymore.

8. Set up your own online or offlineshop. If you canmake arts and crafts, sell your items on eBay, Etsy or at local craft fairs.

With somecommunication, research, and creativity, you can take advantage of your timeoff to learn a new skill or start a new venture with skills and passions youalready have. Have some fun utilizing your creative ability while makingthe extra money you need to make ends meet.

These toughfinancial times don't have to be devastating. Use these tips to take advantageof the resources available to you to reduce the negative impact on your life.You may even look back on this time as the lucky stroke that pushed you towardsuccess in your new career!

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

7 Steps to Coping with Job Loss

2011-10-03T15:44:00.000-07:00

With the economy taking a nosedive, many people arelanding in the unemployment line. If you've suffered the loss of your job, it'sheartening to discover that there are specific actions you can take to copewith this challenge and get back on your feet.

Keep in mind that, while it's certainlydistressing to lose your job, it has the potential to bring you an exciting newbeginning. The right attitude can help you immensely in seeing thishardship through!

Hereare some things you can do to minimize the damage and come out on top:

1. Openly discuss your job loss with your spouse. Since this affects both of you, be sure tomake plans together and agree on implementing changes in your spending habitsto lessen the impact.

Evaluate where you stand financially. Determine how much savings you can rely on and what bills are coming due around the corner.
Draw up a short-term financial plan to follow while you figure things out.

2. Check with your employer. Even though your job has ended, the finaldetails are important to your financial future.

Be sure you understand your insurance options, such as COBRA, so that you and your family can remain covered without any lapses during your search for a new job.

Ask if you can receive a severance package. If one is available, find out every detail, such as beginning and ending dates for each of the benefits. Account for every dollar closely.

3. Apply for unemployment benefits from your state. Moststates offer online applications to help expedite the process and get youenrolled quickly. Unemployment benefits can bring in some much-needed incomewhile you're job hunting.

4. Pull out your resume, dust it off and add your mostrecent information. Consider posting your resume online on job sites andCraigslist and print plenty of copies to drop off or mail.

Start your job search by looking online at job boards, forums, and classified ads, as well as applying directly to companies via their websites. The internet allows you to search the entire world right from the comfort of your own home, and can open doors of opportunity that were previously unavailable to you!

5. Develop an unflagging optimism about thisopportunity you've been given. Offer positive, affirming thoughts toyourself and your family to keep everyone's spirit high.

Positive thinking can make a huge difference on how quickly you find the right job. Enthusiasm will impress prospective employers much more than if you sink into a negative outlook and carry it with you unintentionally during interviews.

6. Talk about your unemployment with your kids, too.Your children should know that times are a little tougher and that you need tocut back on spending. Reassure them that things will be okay and use age-appropriateinformation so as not to stress or scare them.

7. Consider all options. Many times in life, what initiallyappears to be negative ends up being a blessing in disguise, and losingyour job is no exception.

Perhaps you weren't completely happy with your job, but were hesitant to leave it. Now that the decision has been made for you, you finally have the opportunity to try out a new profession or company.
The possibilities are endless. You can even use a layoff as an opportunity to explore a new area of the country, travel the world for a new job, or work online.

You can find success in the face ofadversity. As long as you think positively and work hard, don't be surprised ifyou come out of this entire experience better off than you were before!

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

How to Transition to the Career of Your Dreams

2011-09-30T08:57:00.000-07:00

Do you work in a career that doesn't satisfy you? It's easyto feel stuck because your job is providing you with security. It'sa scary thing to leave that security for the pursuit of your passion!

At the same time, there are steps you can take today to build the career you trulydesire. Your passion for your new career can catapult you to success and unlockyour dreams.

Confucius said, "Choose a job you love and youwill never have to work a day in your life." Heed his adviceand you'll be glad you left your old job behind!

Here are some strategies that can help you transition toyour dream career:

1. Getfocused. It's important to havea plan in place. Write down the specific job you'd like to have and the stepsyou need to take in order to get there.

2. Assigna timeline. Be sure to giveyourself a realistic timeline. As much as you'd like to start your dream jobright away, you don't want to risk stressing yourself out about it.

3. Considerthe financial cost. If your dream career involves owning your own business,it's important to figure out how much this is going to cost you. Research youroptions, such as how you can save up the money or obtain a small business loan.

4. Seekadvice. Look to people who already have your dream career and discuss youroptions with them. If this isn't feasible, find websites or message boardsonline that pertain to the field.

Time Management

Your current career probably already takes up a great deal ofyour time, so it's important to manage your time well if you're going to launcha new career. Allot yourself an hour or two each day to work toward your dreamcareer.

Case Studies

Here are some examples of how others have been able totransition to their dream career. It's refreshing to see how, with some smartaction, you too can reach your career goals.

1. Harry's story.Harry is a businessman who attended to his job during regular 9-5 hours, Mondaythrough Friday. At night and sometimes on weekends, he learned about onlinebusiness and outsourcing.

He saved up money and soonlaunched his very own online business, having learned the ropes while he was savingup the money. Eventually his online income reached a level where hecould leave his 9-5 job and work full time for his new business.

2. Betty's story.Betty is a stay-at-home mom, and cares for her children all day. She decidedshe wanted to make and sell crafts. So she started making the craft items sheenjoyed when the children were quiet or asleep.

Then she learned how to usewebsites like eBay and Etsy to market and sell her crafts. Now she enjoys relaxing while shemakes her crafts and earns a solid income stream by selling themonline.

The common element in these two examples is the fact thatthese people were willing to work and do whatever it takes to find their visionof success. It's easy to say that most people who start their own businessfail, however, just like everything in life, if you keep getting up andtrying, you'll eventually reach your goals!

Plan your transition, work your plan, and soon you'll discover that you'veacquired the career of your dreams!

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

How to Discover Your Talents

2011-09-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

You'll never know what you're truly good at until you givedifferent things a try. When you take action to find your strengths, you justmight surprise yourself. Perhaps there's something you've always wanted to try,but you think that you wouldn't be any good at it. You simply won't knowuntil you try!

When you discover your talents, it can be an eye opening andfulfilling experience for you. The things you're good at are often things youenjoy doing the most. Your talents could even stem into a full-blown career whereyou wouldn't only be helping yourself, you'd be helping others too.

Finding your talentsmay be tricky, that's why we came up with 6 simple tips:

1. FollowYour Current Interests. A great place to start is to reflect on yourcurrent interests. This will guarantee that you'll enjoy what you're doing whenyou discover your hidden talents. An example would be if you love music,consider pursuing an active role in the creation of music instead of justremaining a fan. You could take up an instrument or learn more about the technicalaspects such as sound mixing.

2. StepOutside of the Comfort Zone. Of course, stepping outside of your comfortzone may be difficult at first. No one likes to feel vulnerable, but you'llalso hear people saying that they're glad that they stepped outside of theircomfort zone. The fact is you won't be able to discover new talents ifyou're not open to new things and experiences.

3. Travel.Traveling around the world or your home country can open you up to new experiences.It's a great way to step outside of your comfort zone and take in othercultures. When you travel, you'll get new ideas and make new discoveries, butif you stay at home, your thinking may be limited by routine. Some things youmight discover are artistic or athletic talents, or you may even be inspired topursue new career goals.

4. Reading.Travelling may not always be an option. It can be pricey and time consuming,but reading is a great way to open up the creative juices while staying home.You can read books on any subject that piques your interest. Also, don'tforget about the power of the internet and all of the reading materials thatare available only a search away.

5. TakeCommunity Classes. Community classes are an excellent way to discovertalents for quite a few reasons. One is the fact that they're so close andaccessible to you. Also, they're usually offered at affordable prices. Once you'vechosen a class to attend, you'll get a good idea about the subject over the spanof the course. At the end, you can decide whether or not it's right for you. Ifnot, you can move on and try a different course until you find one that mesheswell with your needs and desires.

6. TalkWith Friends. Keep open dialogues going with your friends and colleagues.Talk about how they discovered their passion and what they did to sharpen theirskills. Perhaps you'll find that you have similar interests among your friends,and if so, you can then pursue theses interests together.

Don't Give Up

In the end, the only thing you need to discover your talentsis the will to keep trying. Once you've found your true talents,you'll enjoy fulfillment, success, fun, and happiness. Who wouldn't want a lifefilled with that?

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

How to Find the Courage to Change Your Career

2011-09-26T10:04:00.000-07:00

A career choice is more than just paying the bills and putting food on the table. You deserve to spend your days doing work you enjoy and your career should align with your values and goals. You owe it to yourself to find within you the courage to change your career direction!

I work with a lot of people who are unhappy in their careers and know in their hearts that they really need to do something different, yet feel that changing careers is too big of a risk. There are many ways you can ease into making this transition.

Take Your Time

A career change is an opportunity to think carefully aboutyour values and determine what matters most to you. This takes time. Be patientand give yourself permission to take the time you need to determine what's mostimportant to you in your career.

Ask Questions

Ask yourself some questions to explore your values and findout what's important to you. Why did you choose your career in the first place?What did you like about this line of work? Have those elements of your jobdisappeared through changes that have taken place, or have you simply forgottenwhat drew you to this line of work in the first place?

What do you wish you were doing instead? Is there a jobwithin your current company that can better utilize your talents in a moreinteresting position? Seek advice from your employer on opportunities thatexist within your company to learn new skills or transfer to a more interestingposition.

Take Small Steps

Take baby steps towards the life you crave. While it mayseem right to run away from your current career as fast as you can, a hurriedapproach may backfire. If you take the time to think through your decisions andmake the best decision possible, you'll experience greater joy and fulfillment inthe long run.

Chase your big dreams by breaking them down intosmall, manageable action steps. Seek the advice of others who arealready successful in the line of work you're seeking to enter into. Structureyour goals in a way that allows you to attain regular feedback on yourprogress, so you know when you're on track and when you're off course.

Respect Your Current Employer

When it's time to leave, do so gracefully. As you movecloser and closer to the career change you seek, continue to perform yourcurrent job to the best of your ability. You may need your current employer asa reference, and an attitude of service will increase your self-confidence asyou prepare for a dramatic change in your life.

Believe in Yourself

Trust your instincts and your ability to succeed.You can achieve any goal that you set out to accomplish. With proper planningand a hunger to succeed, you'll experience the career success you crave. Keepyour dreams in front of you, believe you can achieve them, and begin today totake the first steps toward the career you are destined to enjoy.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Ways to Reward People for a Job Well Done

2011-09-23T08:54:00.000-07:00

Praise and rewards can do wonders to bolster an employee’sself-confidence and morale. No one can deny the effect praise and recognitioncan have on people. Even with your family at home, there are many ways you canreward people for a job well done.

When you praise someone, you let them know you’re aware oftheir hard work. You acknowledge they’ve put forth a great effort to accomplishsomething and you’re celebrating with them for their accomplishment.

Be sincere in your praise. Don’t praise a worker merely to make them feel better. This is even more important to remember with family members. If your praise is insincere, you may be considered manipulative, and you don’t want to give that impression.
Give praise when it’s due. You cannot follow the old adage, “Better late than never,” when it comes to praising someone. Express your praise as quickly as you can when you see that someone has done something praiseworthy.
Be specific about your praise. Sure, you can tell someone they did a great job, but what was so great about it? “Your research paper was direct, to the point, and full of facts,” sounds much better than telling them they had a nice paper.
Praise them in front of others. Giving someone a pat on the back in private may make a person feel good for a few minutes. Recognizing their contribution or success during a staff meeting will extend that good feeling into days, if not weeks.

There’s a double benefit topraising people in front of others: public praise may also encourageothers to work harder as well.

As with genuinely praising an employee or family member whenthey’ve done well, there are other ways to reward them without having to spendmoney.

Here are some otherways you can reward people for a job well done:

1. Reduce theirsupervision. Some people are happier and do much better work when they’reallowed to work on their own. Giving an employee more freedom can be anexcellent reward.

By giving your employees less supervision, you’re letting them know they’re trusted and you have confidence in their abilities.

If you truly trust your employee to do their work without supervision, allow them the flexibility to work from home on occasion. Of course, whether or not you can allow your employees to work at home will depend on the work they do.

2. Give your teammembers who go above and beyond the call of duty a new title. Job titlesdon’t always have to mean more money. Sometimes receiving a title means morethan getting a few more dollars in their paycheck. It shows that you’re pleasedwith their work.

3. Publiclyrecognize people that do their job well. At your next staff meeting,present that person with a certificate. Create a bulletin board in the stafflounge that has photographs of honored employees to continue to recognize them fortheir good work.

4. Encourage your teamby giving them discount coupons to local businesses in your area. This could be a free movie and popcornat the movie theater, reduced entrance at a family park, or a coupon for a freeturkey around the holidays.

When employees feel like they matter, they’re much more willing to givetheir all for a company.

Use some of these ways to reward people for a job well done.Not only will your team enjoy their job and the workplace much more, but you’llfind they’re more productive as well. Recognize and reward a job well done andyour company will ultimately reap the benefits.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

5 Ways of Boosting Morale As a Manager

2011-09-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

On Monday I talked about how to boost morale even if you're not in management. Today I take a look at ways managers can help to improve their employees' well being. Some of the ideas are similar, but there are others that are specific to managers.

In the current economic atmosphere, your employees may bewondering if they’ll have a job next week. Add to that being asked to pick upthe slack from employees who have been laid off and they may be in a bit of aslump. Your employees may feel unmotivatedand unproductive, but there are things you can do to boost morale in yourworkplace.

Try these techniquesto bring more motivation to your workplace:

1. Get to know your employees. Do you know them ona personal level or just as professionals? When you meet with one of your employeesone-on-one is it “strictly business,” or do you take the time to get to knowwho they are as an individual? When you make an effort to learn more aboutthem, you may discover what motivates them. It also makes them feel valued.

Recognize your employees’ birthdays. The employees in your office will be glad that you care enough about them to recognize their special day.
Ask about their lives outside of work. How did they spend the weekend? Where are they going on vacation this year? These types of questions help you get to know them as individuals.

2. Recognize personal and professional accomplishments. Youmight be surprised how an employee is motivated when they know their manager acknowledgesand rewards the work they’ve done.

Recognize them publicly. During team meetings acknowledge those who have gone above and beyond. Make sure there is always at least one person acknowledged during each meeting. This not only motivates the person who is being recognized, but also motivates others who want to get the same appreciation.
Write them a personal thank you note recognizing their contribution when they have stepped outside their usual job duties, or done they regular job exceptionally well. Thank you notes – not an email – are something out of the ordinary these days and show that their contribution was significant enough, and appreciated enough, for you to make the effort to write one.

3. Schedule time for team socializing. There issome socializing done at team meetings, but scheduling time for the team tojust socialize allows them to get to know one another better personally. When yourteam knows and likes one another, they feel more motivated to help each otherand do a good job. Plus, taking a breakfrom work is a good way to reduce stress and return refreshed. Scheduling a weekly team lunch or weeklynon-alcoholic happy hour on Friday afternoon are a couple of ideas.

4. Give them a voice. Create a satisfaction survey. These may even be done anonymously. Besure to address any perceived problems quickly and thoroughly for the bestresults.

Hold staff meetings regularly. This will give staff an opportunity to learn about the company’s status as well as voice any questions they may have. Ask for feedback if changes have to be made.
Ask others what type of training they may need to do their job better. By offering continuing training, you’ll prove that your team is valuable to you, and you’ll do your business a great service by having top-notch, highly trained workers.

5. Offer financial rewards. Everyone likes to get alittle extra in his or her paycheck from time to time. Perhaps there’s a way toincorporate a performance bonus to boost morale.

Talk with the employees and get their ideas. Seriously consider putting a rewards program into place. You may be surprised at what they come up with, and it might not be as expensive as you imagined!

When morale and productivity begin to wane, it’simportant to let your employees know you value them. Sure, they getpaid for the work they do every week, but sometimes they need a littlepick-me-up.

Rewards don’t have to be elaborate or expensive. A littlebit of recognition can go a long way to improving the atmosphere in yourworkplace.

Give them the respect they deserve. Use these ways of boostingmorale in the workplace and before you know it, your employees will have smileson their faces and motivation on their mind!

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

5 Ways of Boosting Morale as a Team Member

2011-09-19T09:33:00.000-07:00

In the current economic atmosphere, you may be wondering if you’llhave a job next week. Add to that downsizing and being asked to do more withless and you may be in a bit of a slump. You and your colleagues may feelunmotivated and unproductive, but there are things you can do to boost moralein your workplace, even if you’re not in management.

Try these techniquesto bring more motivation to your workplace:

1. Get to know your colleagues. Perhaps you don’treally know your co-workers! Do you know them on a personal level or just asprofessionals? When you make an effort to learn more about them, you maydiscover what motivates them. It also makes them feel valued.

Recognize your colleagues’ birthdays. Birthday cake always lightens the mood! The employees in your office will be glad that you care enough about them to recognize their special day. It also gives everyone a reason to gather and talk about something besides work.
Ask about their personal lives. Are they married? Do they have children? What are their hobbies? Of course, you want to do this conversationally, in the context of whatever is being discussed – don’t make it seem like you are interviewing them or it may be seen as prying. These types of questions help you get to know them as individuals.

2. Recognize personal and professional accomplishments. Youmight be surprised how a co-worker is motivated when they know their team acknowledgesand rewards the work they’ve done.

Recognize them publicly. Make a point of recognizing and thanking someone who has helped you out in front of others. This might be at a formal team meeting, or a more informal gathering in the lunch room.
Write them a personal thank you note recognizing their contribution if they’ve helped you or another team member out. Even if it’s just “doing their job,” people appreciate when the work they do is noticed and valued.

3. Organize a team lunch. You don’t have to leavethe office if time is short; instead, order pizza or have a potluck every sooften. They’ll be able to relax and enjoy their work environment more whengiven a chance to socialize.

4. Participate. Be an active part of your workteam. Pitch in and help others, offeryour input and opinions, make suggestions on ways to improve your workenvironment. When others see youactively participating, they will be more likely to do so as well, which buildsa stronger, more supportive team.

5. Focus on thepositive. Your attitude makes a big difference in how you perceive what’shappening around you, and this is no less true at work.

Solutions, not problems. When you notice there is a problem in your workplace, start thinking about how it can be made better. Talk it over with your team members and get their input. When you solve a problem as a team, it will improve how everyone feels.

Refrain from complaining as a way of socializing with your co-workers. We frequently use complaining as a way to connect with others. This is not helpful (i.e. doesn’t solve the problem) and makes us all feel bad. Find other things you have in common with your team members, and talk about those things when socializing. If a co-worker insists on complaining, change the subject or leave the conversation.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Amazing Career Advice From Dogs

2011-09-16T14:11:00.000-07:00

You can learn a lot from watching dogs. If you want to behappier at work and move ahead in your career, try to think more like a dog.Yes, for real!

Become Happier atWork:

1. Show your enthusiasm. Learn to lovewhatever you're doing. When your job seems routine, remind yourself of itspurpose, whether that's to provide for your family or invent a new medicine.Sometimes just smiling will make you feel more joyful.

2. Greet everybody. Take the time to wisheveryone a good morning before you settle down to your tasks. Yourrelationships with your co-workers play a huge role in your job satisfaction.Create a friendly atmosphere by exchanging daily pleasantries.

3. Lend others your support. Take a breakfrom your own concerns to notice how your colleagues are feeling. When stresslevels are high, offer your assistance and encouragement. You'll feel good abouthelping out, and people will be more likely to reciprocate when you need ahand.

4. Give early warnings. Minor workplaceconflicts can escalate if they're allowed to fester. Speak out tactfully at thefirst sign of a misunderstanding. This will make your work environment muchmore pleasant than just growling right before you bite.

5. Bounce back from conflicts. Forgetabout holding grudges. Put any unpleasant experiences behind you anddemonstrate your willingness to cooperate with everybody to get the job done.

6. Follow your instincts. Sometimes youhave to respond to unfamiliar situations without much time to prepare. Trustyour instincts when you need to take a risk. If it's your first timegiving a staff presentation, boost your confidence by adapting what you alreadyknow from your days on the student debate team.

7. Get plenty of sleep. You may never beable to arrange your schedule to get as much sleep as your dog, but you canstill strive for 8 hours every night. Adequate rest is critical to your mentalhealth.

How to Advance inYour Career:

1. Show off youraccomplishments. Humility is an admirable quality, but sometimes you needto promote yourself. Watch how dogs soak up positive attention without lookinglike they're bragging. Use your success stories to your advantage in jobevaluations and interviews.

2. Follow therules. How does a dog know which objects are okay to chew? The logic behindsome rules may elude you, but it's usually best to go along with them topreserve order in the workplace.

3. Practice active listening. Yourco-workers are bound to value you more if you take a sincere interest in them.Listen respectfully to what others may be able to teach you.

4. Persist. Persistence is a big part ofsuccess. Stay focused and keep on the trail no matter what obstacles arise.If you get blocked from digging under the fence, maybe you can persuade someoneto open the gate for you.

5. Reduce waste. Mail carriers andcouriers perform valuable jobs, but many dogs obviously would prefer apaper-free world. Some dogs also regard as edible the many things that humansthrow away. Impress your boss and help the environment by cutting down on paperwaste and recycling more.

6. Contribute to the pack. Above all,think beyond your own interests to participate as a team player. Takesatisfaction in working together to achieve common goals and improve everyone'swell being. You can accomplish much more working with others than you ever could onyour own.

Although chasing your tail may not get you anywhere in life,dogs are otherwise great role models for becoming more content and productive atwork.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

7 Ways to Combat Work Stress

2011-09-14T14:20:00.000-07:00

Even if you've discovered your dream job, you're not immunefrom work stress from time to time, simply because everything in life doesn't always go perfectlyaccording to plan.

Whether you're battling work stress every day or just oncein awhile, there are some effective techniques you can use to relieve it. Learninghealthy ways to release your stress and even how to prevent a stressfulreaction in the first place are critical to your health, success, and peace ofmind.

Here are some strategies to combat work stress:

1. Practiceeffective communication. If co-workers are causing you stress, askyourself, "Why?" There's a good chance that the two of you aren'treally communicating.

Put yourself in their shoes to better understand their point of view.
Listen to their needs and see if they can be met. If you can satisfy their requirements, a source of conflict is removed and so is the stress associated with it.
Also, if you can better communicate your own needs, others are more likely to agree with your requests.

2. Thinkpositively. When things turn sour, you may be tempted to fall into anegative pattern of thinking. It's easy to say that you hate your job, but areyou doing anything to improve the situation? If you adopt a positive attitude,it'll be easier to maintain the drive you need to overcome problems at work.

It's quite possible that everything at work is not as bad as you think! If you focus on the things that are going right, it'll bring you more patience, less stress, and increase your overall job satisfaction.

3. Takecare of yourself. If you're really dedicated to your job, you may begin tolose yourself in it. No wonder you're under a great deal of stress! You mayfeel as if your job has become your whole life. In these instances, it's bestto take a step back and focus on taking care of yourself.

Take regular breaks and enjoy something that's not work-related when you're not working.
Avoid working overtime or taking work home with you. On rare occasions, it may cause you less stress to stay and finish a project, rather than be late in completing it. However, it might also help you to work on strengthening your time management skills if this occurs frequently.
Take care of your body by exercising, eating nutritious foods, and getting enough sleep. While that sounds so simple, how often do we rush around on 4 hours of sleep, coffee, and a donut all day long?

4. Acceptthat everyone's human, including you.The drive to be perfect is an automatic stress inducer! Everyone makes mistakes- you, your co-workers, and your clients.

Trust that other people will get the job done right. You and your team can still produce quality work, even with an occasional mistake. If you remain flexible, you'll be less likely to feel stress.

5. Understandother points of view. When you know where someone is coming from, you'll bebetter able to understand the situation without all the stress. For example, ifyou can understand your manager's expectations, you can take action to meetthem, or you can communicate your own more realistic expectations.

6. Getorganized. Organization can be a key factor for job stress relief. If yourworkplace is disorganized, it can also cause disorganization in your mind. Yourthoughts may become scattered and you'll be less likely to think on your feeteffectively, causing even more stress.

7. Takeresponsibility. If you take responsibility for your actions, you can alsoreduce stress. When you keep yourself accountable, you'll be focused onconstant self-improvement without the lies, blame, or cover-ups.

Reducing stress at work can take a little practice, but theresults are well worth the effort. Follow these work stress strategies dailyand soon you'll find less and less situations to feel stressful about.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

How to Handle Difficult Co-Workers

2011-09-12T15:19:00.000-07:00

Do you love your job…except that one difficult person youhave to work with? There may be timeswhen that relationship causes you so much grief that you’d be willing to giveup the job you love – except when you have to work with this person. Take heart! Many work relationships can be vastly improved with just a little willingnessto address the problem directly.

All of us have had times where there is a particularco-worker who just rubs us wrong, or is difficult to get along with. Here are some simple steps you can take tomake things better not only for you, but possibly for the person with whom youhave a conflict.

First of all, take a look at yourself, and your role in theconflict. Are there things you can dothat will shift the interactions? If so,try making some small changes and see what happens. For instance, maybe you have a co-worker thatdrops by your desk uninvited to chat on a regular basis. Instead of just grinning and bearing it, trysaying something like “Hi Diane, it’s nice to see you. I’m right in the middle of something now. CanI get back to you later?” Of course youdon’t have to ever get back to Diane. Aftera while, she should get the message and stop popping by.

If this first approach isn’t applicable, or doesn’t work,the next step is to have a private conversation with the person. Begin by complimenting the person on someaspect of the behavior that is bothering you. You might tell Diane that how much you appreciate that she helpseveryone in the office stay connected. Then explain to them how their behavior is impacting your ability to doyour job. Start with the phrase, “you’reprobably not aware” before stating the problem. This lets the person save face and not feel that they are doingsomething wrong or inappropriate.

Continuing with our example, let’s say Diane continues tocome by every day for a little chat. Thenext time she drops by, tell her that you have something you’d like to discusswith her, and ask her if she has a minute. Then find a private setting such as a conference room and say, “Iappreciate how you help to keep everyone in the office connected, that’s areally important skill. You’re probablynot aware of this, but my job has gotten really busy and stressful. When youcome by for a chat each day it’s hard for me to focus on the conversationbecause I’m getting stressed out about all the work that is waiting for mewhile we’re chatting. “

Next, suggest your solution to the problem. With Diane you might say, “Let’s scheduletime to meet for coffee or lunch to catch up. That way I will make room for it in my schedule and I can give our conversationthe attention it deserves.” If Dianecontinues to drop by uninvited, remind her of the conversation and how busy youare, and ask her to send you a meeting request for coffee or lunch.

The last resort should be appealing to your supervisor. Many of us feel uncomfortable with conflict,so we want someone else to handle it for us. Unfortunately, once you bring in a third party, and one with someauthority and power, your co-worker will probably view that as a threateningsituation. That will make it much moredifficult for you to work together easily.

Of course there are times when involving your supervisor isappropriate, but the majority of these difficult co-worker situations can beresolved directly with the person involved. So get your courage up and address whatever situation is making yourwork day less enjoyable than it might be.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

How to Ask Your Employer About Working from Home

2011-09-09T10:50:00.000-07:00

Do you love your job, but hate the commute or the workplacesetting? Maybe you feel that you’re moreproductive when you have uninterrupted time to focus on your tasks. If any of this is true, you may want to thinkabout asking your employer if you can work from home. Even if you’re skeptical that your boss willagree, you have nothing to lose by asking.

Before approaching your supervisor about working from home,it is important to have a plan and a proposal with the benefits to the companyof you working from home. First, makesure that you could perform all your job duties just as well from a remotelocation. If there are parts of your jobthat are better done in the office – for example attending certain meetings inperson - you might propose working from home part of the time, and spending therest of the week in the office as you currently do.

Secondly, you will want to make sure that you will be ableto access all technology you typically use in the office. Although this is not a comprehensive list andwill vary depending on your job, you will likely need to have a business phone,copier, fax, printer, a computer, and high speed internet. Will you want your employer to provide thisequipment, or are you willing and able to provide it yourself?

Last, but not least, think about what your work-from-homeexperience will really be like for you. You will want to consider the followingquestions:

· Are able to stay focused and stay on taskwithout direct supervision?

· What will it be like to lose the socialinteraction of being in an office daily?

· What will you do to prevent feelingisolated?

· What difficulties may be created by notphysically being present in the office, and how will you resolve them?

Once you have given this some thought, put together awritten proposal. You will want toinclude:

· What you are proposing (i.e. every day at home,come in to the office for important meetings, etc.)

· How it will benefit the company

· How you will deal with technical needs

· Answers to any objections you anticipate

· Questions you still need answers to (like whopays for equipment)

Schedule time with your manager, and bring two copies ofyour proposal with you so that s/he also has a written copy. Present your proposal, and then ask forfeedback. Find out if there are anyoutstanding questions your boss would need answered before making a decisionand either answer them right then, or commit to when you will have an answerfor your supervisor.

Finally, do not expect an immediate response from your boss. If you get one – a positive one – great! If you get an immediate “no,” ask what yourmanager would need to see from you to reconsider. If your supervisor needs time to think itover, schedule a follow-up meeting for one week later.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Asked to Relocate? Questions You Should Ask Your Employer

2011-09-07T09:15:00.000-07:00

Have you recently been asked by your employer torelocate? If you have, you are facing adecision that more individuals are finding themselves faced with eachyear. With many companies finding itdifficult to survive in high cost living areas, many are choosing to relocateto areas where it is cheaper to operate a business. Additionally, with companies downsizing, youmay be asked to take a job in another location to avoid being laid off.

If you find yourself being asked to relocate, there are anumber of important questions that you should ask your employer beforeofficially making your decision.

One question that you will want to ask concerns pay. As mentioned earlier, many companies arechoosing to relocate to areas where it is cheaper to operate a business. This often involves lower pay foremployees. Be sure to confirm whatimpact this will have on your pay.

Another question involves your current position. Is this a lateral move? Will you be performing the same or similarfunctions to your current job, or is this a completely different job? Of course it will be important that you findout as much as you can about your new position before you decide to uproot yourlife and the life of your family.

A related question involves inquiring about your expectedduties. As previously stated, many companies use relocation as a way to savemoney. This may also involve eliminatingpositions and having the remaining employees carry a larger workload. If you would be expected to perform moreduties, you may want to negotiate a pay change at the same time.

You will also want to find out about relocation expenses –will the company cover them, and to what extent? Most employers will notify you upfront ifthey plan on assisting you with the cost of relocating, but, if not, it will beimportant to find out what the cost out-of-pocket will be to you and factorthat into your decision.

In addition to asking your employer the above mentionedquestions, you will also want to take the time to learn as much about yourrelocation destination as possible. Youwill want to look at the cost of living compared with your current location. If you have children, you will want toexamine the local school districts. Ifyou have a spouse, you may want to examine the current job outlook, to see ifthey would be able to find employment in the area, too.

Making the decision to relocate for work is never a simpleone. Can be exciting and full ofopportunity, and at the same time feel a little daunting. Be sure to ask whatever questions will helpyou feel comfortable that you are making the best choice for you and yourfamily.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching:Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Are You Working a Dead-End Job? Signs That You Might Be

2011-08-31T09:06:00.000-07:00

Have you ever felt like you are working at a dead-end job? If you think that you are, you are definitely not alone. But don’t despair! Even if you are currently in a dead-end job, there are things you can do to improve the situation.

One of the many signs that you may be working a dead-end job is if you find yourself in the same position, for years and years. If you were hired with the intention of no advancement, your current position may be fine for you. However, if you have goals and have yet to see those goals accomplished, it may be a sign of a dead-end job.

Another sign that you may be working a dead-end job is if you have been working at the same pay level, also for a number of years. In fact, many employers automatically give their employees pay raises yearly or even quarterly. You should never have your work go unrewarded, especially if you were employed by the same company for many years.

There is good news though, if your only issue is pay you may be able to turn your dead-end job into a great job. You can do this by inquiring about a pay raise. Many employers expect this, especially after an extended period of time without a raise; therefore, you may have nothing to lose by asking.

It is important to remember that you don’t have to keep on working in your dead-end job forever. There are a number of steps you can take to make a change. One step involves speaking to your supervisor or supervisors. This may involve asking for an increase in pay or asking for a promotion, or at the very least, requesting additional responsibilities. Not all individuals want the responsibility of a promotion; therefore, you will want to let your supervisors know that you are interested in advancement.

Another one of the many ways that you go about getting out of your dead-end job is by creating a stir, but in a good way. Despite your possible frustration, you may want to consider giving your job a second chance. With that second chance though, you are urged to take action. Make sure your efforts are noted by your supervisors, volunteer for tasks with more responsibility, or cover someone else’s shift in an emergency.

Your supervisors may mistakenly believe that you are currently satisfied with your job. You will want to show them that you want more and that you are capable of handling more.

Another option that you have when looking to rid yourself of a dead-end job, is seeking employment elsewhere. If you have a family to support or bills that must be paid, you may only want to seek other employment as a last resort, but it is still an option that you may want to examine.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192

www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

What Are Your Qualifications?

2011-02-03T10:55:00.000-08:00

When someone is updating their resume in preparation for a job search (or during a job search), they sometimes struggle with figuring out what the should put in the "Qualifications" section. An aside: do you have a Qualifications section in your resume? You should!

There are a couple of sources that can be helpful in figuring out what should go there.

Look at your previous jobs and find the common skills that you needed to perform the job well. Even though you may have been in different types of positions, you will find there are some commonalities such as organizational skills and communication skills.
Look at job postings for the type of position you are interested in. What kinds of things do they list as "requirements?" These are things that you should highlight by putting them in your Qualifications section.

Identify your top 5-7 qualifications. The ones that should fall in the top are things that you feel very skilled at (and have examples to back you up) and/or the ones that are commonly asked for in job postings.

For each of your qualifications, right a statement about it that includes an example of your skill with that qualification. For example: "Excellent organization skills as evidenced by consistent on-time reporting."

Your Qualifications section should go at the top of your resume so the employer sees right away that you have the skill set they are looking for.

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Relationships and Your Career

2011-02-01T15:48:00.000-08:00

The past several years have seen the job market become a "buyer's market," meaning that because many people are looking for work, employers have their pick of the litter. How's that for mixing metaphors? Because of the buyer's market, it is more important than ever to find ways to differentiate yourself; to stand out.

One way that can be extremely valuable is through relationships. You've heard the saying "it's not what you know, it's who you know." In these times, that is even more true.

When employers have hundreds of applicants, if one of them just happens to be an acquaintance of a current employee it saves them lots of work reading through resumes, doing dozens of interviews, etc. Plus, the candidate is a known quantity - they are being recommended by someone who already works in the organization.

So if you're a job seeker, spend some time networking, and then building relationships with the people you meet. You never know who they may know.

Coming next: How do I start networking?

For more career ideas, sign up to listen to the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

3 Things To Know When Choosing Your Ideal Career

2011-01-13T11:03:00.000-08:00

So you've gone through the process of finding your purpose and distilling it into a purpose statement. You've brainstormed a list of careers that fit your purpose and prioritized them using your heart, not your head. Now how do you begin evaluating and picking among all those choices?

There are several "head" (i.e. logistical) items that may sway you in one way or another, and it's important to get this information for each career you're considering.

What are the educational requirements? These may not be hard and fast, or they may be written in stone. For instance, if you want to be a doctor you have to graduate from medical school. However if you want to be a doula or midwife there are many paths you can take. Find out what the bottom line, absolutely must have is for education.
How much money can you make? This will typically be a range that based on a number of factors. I believe that if we follow the right path to our ideal career we will make as much money as we need. However you need to be realistic in paying attention hourly or salary ranges if you are going to be employed by someone else. Can the top rate support you?
Is this career primarily for the self-employed or those employed by others? Or both? Some people hate being an employee, while others can't imagine running their own business. Again, being realisitic about how a particular career fits with your preferences will help you make a good choice.

These three items will start you down the path of choosing your career wisely and beginning to make it a reality.

For more career ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Why Do an Informational Interview?

2011-01-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

When you're exploring various careers (ones you've brainstormed after coming up with your purpose statement), informational interviews with people who are already in those careers is a great way to start deciding if that career is a good fit for you. Some of the things to ask might include:

What was your path to this job/career?
What are other paths that you know of?
What do you like best about your job?
What do you like least?
If there is one change that you could make to your current job, what would it be?
What do you think I should know that I haven't already asked?
If I decided to pursue this career, what would you recommend that I do first?
Who can you introduce to me who can give their personal experience with this career?

These questions will help you get a feel for what the job is really like, not just what the job description might say. When you find a career that you keep at the top of your list, it is helpful to interview several people to get a balanced view.

For more career ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Getting Your List of Possible Ideal Careers

2011-01-06T16:24:00.000-08:00

Once you've created your purpose statement (see post from 1/4/11), you need to find careers that fulfill that statement. This is a blue sky exercise where you write down every single idea that comes to mind that fits your purpose. Know evaluating beyond does it fulfill your purpose or not.

Hopefully you've ended up with a pretty long list. If you haven't been censoring yourself, then that should be the case.

Now, start prioritizing. No - don't evaluate on feasibility or money or other people's reactions. Evaluate purely on your emotional reaction to that career. Does it make you feel excited? Do you feel warm and fuzzy when you think of that career? Do you immediately tense up? Are you scared?

Use whatever feelings arise to prioritize your list. The better you feel when thinking about being in that career, the higher on the list it goes.

Next up, "rational" evalaution. :-)

For more career ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Your Purpose Statement and Your Ideal Career

2011-01-04T15:49:00.000-08:00

When exploring to find your ideal career, it's helpful to come up with a "purpose statement." This is a sentence that describes what your purpose (in career, in life) is. You discover your purpose through doing some exercises designed to help you tap into your inner wisdom.

It might be pretty specific as in “I love to teach dance and share in my student’s passion for movement.” It may be more general, such as “I enjoy teaching others and seeing them learn and grow.” Or your purpose could be extremely general: “I feel passionate about physical movement in the company of others.” Regardless of the specificity, you have discovered your purpose!

Most people feel quite exhilarated when they discover their purpose. Although there is still work that must be done to decide the exact direction you want to take in a career and embark on that journey, knowing your purpose and the passion it evokes within you will keep you moving in the right direction.

For more ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

4 Ways to Use Your Childhood as a Clue to Your Ideal Career

2010-12-30T14:05:00.000-08:00

When we were kids we didn't yet have the limiting beliefs that as adults frequently keep us from pursuing and having what we really want in life. Spend some time remembering things from your childhood that created joy, excitement and sense of purpose. Why were you drawn to those ideas or activities? How did they make you feel? Your ideal career should recreate those feelings.

Here are a few ways to use clues from your childhood to identify your ideal career:

What was your favorite game or toy? What emotions did it evoke in you?
What sports did you enjoy? Were they team or individual sports? What drew you that specific sport?
What did you want to be when you grew up? How did you feel when you imagined yourself as an astronaut or teacher or firefighter?
What was your favorite game of pretend?

Remembering these times vividly will start you on the path to understanding your purpose and the career that will fulfill it.

For more ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Set Aside Limiting Beliefs to Find Your Purpose

2010-12-29T14:56:00.000-08:00

Being open to possibility can be the most difficult of tasks. We each have many perceived limitations placed upon us by family and friends, society, and – most important of all – by ourselves. When beginning an exploration to uncover purpose and passion in your life, it is essential to set aside these limitations and preconceived notions about what you should be doing in your career, and focus on what you want to be doing.

Many fears can also accompany the prospect of a new career. Some of these are logistical: wondering if you can continue to support yourself or how you will manage going back to school and working at the same time.

Other concerns may include a fear that you are incapable of learning something new, that no one will hire someone your age, or that you will make the wrong choice of career!

You can trust that if you follow your purpose and passion when choosing your new career, it will not be the wrong choice. A career that brings a sense of meaning, joy and satisfaction to you guarantees that it will be the right choice.

For more ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Is What You're Good At, What You Love?

2010-12-27T13:17:00.000-08:00

I work with a lot of people to help them find their ideal careers. One thing I've run into many times is the idea that if we're good at something, then we should pursue a career that uses that talent or skill. I know from personal experience that being good at something doesn't equate to being passionate about it.

I spent many years working in software development as a developer, system admin and database administrator. I also spent many years as a project and team manager for software development projects. I was really good at all of these roles, but in the end, none of them were fulfilling for me. I had the skills and talent for them, but not the heart.

The things in all of these jobs that I did love (and was eventually a clue for my career change) was the people helping component. As a developer, I loved training clients on the use of the software and helping them when they had problems. As a system admin and DBA, I enjoyed collaborating with my team members and sharing my specific knowledge. As a project and team manager I enjoyed guiding my team members and helping clients.

In retrospect, it makes perfect sense that I would become a counselor and coach. I love to help people and share my subject knowledge with them.

So, when considering your next career, rather than asking your self what you've done well in the past, ask yourself what you've loved doing in the past.

For more ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

4 Ways to Know if you Need a New Job - or New Career

2010-12-24T13:00:00.000-08:00

When we are unhappy in our job, doing something completely different can be very appealing. However, it's worthwhile to look at whether you really need a different career, or just a different job. Theses ideas and questions can help you know which is right for you.

Take the things you dislike about your job and turn them 180 degrees to become must-haves for your next job.
Do you dislike your job, or just the environment or circumstances where you work? This gives you a clue to whether you need a new job or a new career.
What do you love most about your job? What do you hate most? Which of these gets more of your time and energy? What does that tell you?
Does your career support your life values? If not, a different career may make you happier.

For more ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Tips for Improving Your Current Job

2010-12-23T10:30:00.000-08:00

Tips for Improving Your Current Job

By Laura Allan, MA, CPC

Laura Allan Career Coaching

206-999-1192

Are you unhappy in your job and know that you need a change, but can't just quit today (or even tomorrow)? Most of us do not have the luxury of leaving our current job without having another job waiting in the wings, so it makes sense to change what we can in your current job to make it easier to bear while you work towards being able to leave it. The following exercise will help you identify steps you can to take to make a shift in the areas that are causing you the most grief in your current job situation.

Steps for Improving

The Job You Hate

1. Make a list of the top 5 things that bug you about your current situation. These can be big-ticket items like your boss yells at you daily, or something that may seem more insignificant but over time builds up to more than an annoyance, such as something like there is no lunchroom and you must eat at your desk (where you also get interrupted).

Some common issues may include: doing tasks that are boring, your daily commute, work hours that don’t fit with your family needs, working in a physical environment that is uncomfortable, too much work and not enough time, or conflicts with co-workers.

2. For each thing on the list come up with at least one thing that you can do to change the situation. It’s important to focus on what you have control over, as you cannot force others to change. It’s also important to realize that you may not be able to completely fix the situation to your satisfaction. What we’re after if incremental change that will allow you to tolerate your situation with reduced stress.

Some ways you can take action include changing your perspective: choose not to focus on things that annoy you or choose not to take conflict personally. You can deal with feeling overworked or overwhelmed by setting and holding firm boundaries for your time: don’t work through your lunch hour, stay late, or do work at home. See how creative you can be in finding ways to even subtly shift your top five issues.

3. Set dates for when you will implement your action steps. By consciously setting a date that you will begin each action, you will be more likely to actually try it. Also set a time period for when you will evaluate how your interventions are working for you, and make adjustments if needed. It’s a good idea to write these due dates on a calendar.

4. Find ways to keep your actions steps in your awareness on a daily basis. One of the most difficult things about changing a habit (and the way we work and the ways we interact with others at work are habits), is remembering to do it differently. Find ways to remind yourself of the changes you are making on a daily basis. This may be a sticky note on your desk or a task in your daily calendar. Find what works for you to keep you aware.

5. Evaluate the effectiveness and adjust if necessary. Back in Step 3 you identified a date when you would look at how your action step is working for you. For different types of actions you may have different lengths of time that you will try them out. Take a look and see if things have improved in the targeted problem area, even slightly.

If things are now acceptable to you, congratulations! Keep doing what you’ve been doing. If things have improved, but not enough, or haven’t improved at all, implement one of the other ideas you came up with to address this problem.

If you consistently apply the action steps you’ve identified, your top 5 problems should get better. Now that you’re no longer completely stressed about your current job, you will have the energy you need to figure out what’s next for you and begin pursuing your dreams.

For more ideas, sign up for the FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

For more great career articles, tips, and free tele-classes, visit http://www.BestSeattleCareerCounseling.com.

###

Laura Allan is a psychotherapist and career coach. After making a mid-life career change, she is happily living her ideal career. Laura is passionate about helping clients use their own experiences and inner wisdom to evolve into the best version of themselves, leading to a happier and more fulfilling life. You can contact Laura at 206-999-1192, or by email at Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

4 Tips to Make Your Job Better - Today!

2010-12-21T14:33:00.000-08:00

When you're unhappy with your job, each day can be a misery. While you're figuring out what's next, here are some things you can do to make your current job better right now.

Think of one thing you can do today that will make your job better - then do it!
Find ways to incorporate something your passionate about into your current job.
Make a plan with deadlines for making specific changes that will make your current job more enjoyable.
Find a buddy to share ideas about how to feel better about your current job (instead of complaining to each other).

As the saying goes: "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude." Changing your perspective can change everything. Don't be miserable for one more day!

For more ideas, sign up for FREE teleseminar (in the right column).

Laura Allan, MA, LMHC, CPC LinkedIn
Live. Learn. Grow

Laura Allan Career Coaching: Facebook Twitter

Laura Allan Counseling and Coaching: Facebook Twitter

206-999-1192
www.LauraAllanCounseling.com
Laura@LauraAllanCounseling.com

Is It Time to Find New Job (or Career)?

2010-12-20T12:53:00.000-08:00

Should You Stay or Should You Go?

By Laura Allan, MA, CPC

Laura Allan Career Coaching