As companies downsize, services consolidate and manufacturing firms reposition themselves to foreign soil, many Americans are being forced to change their careers. Even among those with a clear career path, many are seeking to transfer their skills into growth fields.
Because of these trends, the need for career consulting services has never been greater.
Professionals in the career consulting industry rely on counseling, research, and marketing techniques to assist their clients in developing career options and industry alternatives that match their goals and objectives.
If you decide to seek the assistance of a career consultant, you should compare and evaluate several firms. Check on their reputations, staff experience and credentials before choosing one. Carefully read the written contract, check with the Better Business Bureau, and verify the company's expertise in your area.
The credentials of the consultant staff is of special importance. You certainly wouldn't expect to take a commercial flight with a big airline company only to discover that your pilot has not yet received his FAA certifications. The same should be true in selecting a career consulting firm. Are their consultants credentialed by the Career Masters Institute (an external, independent organization that provides rigorous credentialing for only the best in the industry)? Are they certified by the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association?
You also need to understand that your own involvement is critical to the success of any job search program.
While each individual program can emphasize specific individual needs, the following eight areas are important to every effective job search:
1. FOCUS ON DIRECTION
What do you really want to do? Answering this question is a vital preliminary to establishing a career position. Education, experience, current market trends, desired geographic location, and your goals and desires are all critical to establishing a proper career focus. Career consultants combine testing, analysis of past industry experience and accomplishments, research data, knowledge of the current market, and in-depth, personal consultation to determine with the client what future career path will be best.
2. WRITTEN MATERIALS
How well do you present yourself in writing?
A career consultant skilled in marketing strategy coordinates with the client in writing creative marketing materials that project the client's current and future value to an employer. These materials can include resumes, executive portfolios, promotional literature, Web sites, and tailored marketing letters addressing specific opportunities in the market.
3. RESEARCH
Where do you locate the best company or industry to target your job search?
There is nothing mysterious about market research -- if you have the time and the knowledge to find the required information. Unfortunately, most career seekers have neither. There are thousands of databases and books each with their own selection criteria. To locate companies based on size, location, product/services, growth, sales volumes. And financial data involves cross-referencing, four to five different sources.
If the target is growth companies, information usually is not found in traditional sources, which requires that the research be expanded to include magazines, periodicals, business newsletters, and other sources.
Research can also ferret out unadvertised job opportunities.
4 INTERVIEWING
What do you do to best prepare for face-to-face interviewing?
Interviewing is selling and no professional would ever go on a sales call without detailed preparation. Yet career seekers do it constantly. They oversell their needs, undersell their value, fail to address corporate concerns and have very little idea how to create corporate positions.
Training the client to develop and control interviews, handle sensitive questions, and directly influence people is a major component of the service a professional career consultant provides.
4. NEGOTIATION
How do you position yourself to win the best possible compensation package?
A person's future within an organization is often determined by the way he or she initially handles salary negotiations. And yet, it is extremely difficult to negotiate effectively for yourself.
First, many people do not know what they can ask for or what is available in terms of benefits, options and long-term agreements. Second, there is the justifiable concern that if handled incorrectly, negotiations could result in loss of an offer. Career consultants advise you on negotiating a total compensation package.
6. ENTREPRENEURS
Should you consider self employment?
Statistics indicate Americans are venturing into owning their own businesses in record numbers. The rewards can be enticing but the pitfalls are deadly.
Some career consulting services can help a client assess a business venture, provide consultation on financial options and help the client to structure a business plan.
7. A PRESONAL MARKETING PLAN
What is your overall approach to marketing your career?
Similar to a business plan, a marketing plan addresses the entire process required to implement an effective professional job search. Consultants provide assignments, time parameters, goals, and scheduled meetings to give the client structure and confidence throughout the entire process. This plan becomes an essential guideline when entering the highly competitive job market at a critical and emotional time in the client's life.
8. EMOTIONAL SUPPORT
How do you deal with the pressure?
For many people seeking employment or a career, the job search is very stressful. First, there is fear of the unknown -- meeting strangers, initiating phone calls, explaining recent setbacks. The greatest fear of all is rejection by the interviewer. Add to this the fear of an unpredictable economy that directly affects spouses, children, current financial requirements, and the possibility of relocation. All of these factors can lead to a loss of self esteem. Once again, a skilled consultant will address these emotional concerns that, left unchecked, can have an extremely negative emotional impact on the entire process.
The result of using a professional career consultant throughout the job search process may be a shorter, less stressful job search, thousands of dollars in increased income, and much higher job security and satisfaction.
LTC Donald B. Skipper, USA (Ret.) has been associated with the military to civilian transition process as a senior consultant for 22 years and is currently the CEO of Career Beginnings, Inc. He is a Credentialed Career Master, Certified Employment Interview Consultant, and Certified Electronic Career Coach. Don is an active member of the Professional Resume Writing and Research Association, the Association of Job Search Trainers, and the Career Master's Institute. You may visit with him at [http://www.nofeartransitions.us]
No comments:
Post a Comment