A Coach's Approach to Your Winning Career 

By Janine A. Schindler

Professional Life and Career Coach

 

As a professional career and life coach, I work with clients who are in the process of creating the perfect life they want and deserve. Today, people change jobs and careers more than ever before. The following are some tips on how you might intentionally create a career that you enjoy, and expresses your passions and values.

A career is defined as: A profession or occupation for which one trains, which is undertaken as a permanent calling or for a significant period of a person's life, with opportunities for progress. Today we are faced with infinitely more career possibilities, new career definitions, and phased out career definitions daily. The days of staying with one company, in one career and retiring with a pension and gold watch are over. Is it any wonder that so many people are in career crisis? So, where is one to begin?

Begin with your values. Values are things you do or that you find very attractive. When engaged in these activities, you feel most like yourself: well, connected, excited, glowing and with ease of effort. The average employee spends a minimum of 50 percent of their awake hours on the job, so why not have those hours be equal to the other 50 percent? Start by asking yourself the following questions:

· What's really important to you?

· What turns you on?

What do you like to do so much that you'd almost feel guilty getting paid to do it? Career satisfaction is a direct correlation between your personal values and the work you are doing.

What did you always like to do? What did you do when you were young? What did you dream of doing? What can you envision doing for 12 to 14 hours in a row? What puts you in "the zone?" These answers will help you discover your natural gifts, talents and skills. A gift or a talent is something you are born with or seem naturally qualified to do. On the other hand, a skill is something you learn to do. Learn what your gifts and talents are and don't let them go to waste. You are more apt to honor your values and enjoy what you are doing when you are using a gift or talent. There are many skills we can be taught and can perform them well. Think of what prisoners and refugees learn to do to survive. If you want to thrive in your career, do what you like vs. like what you do.

Learn your personal style. Start by asking yourself the following questions:

· Are you highly intuitive?

· Are you reserved or outgoing?

· Are your decisions based on fact or feeling?

· Are you independent or a team performer?

· Do you like structure or unstructured environments?

The answers to these and similar questions will help determine the type of career and company that you will find the both interesting and challenging.

Research, research and research some more. Tap into every source of information on both the career and the company. Talk to as many people as you can in the field and in companies you are considering. "Test drive it," so to speak. Try an internship, a part-time or summer job in the field and/or company of your choice. Connect with alumni, meet prospective employers at job fairs, attend professional organization meetings, volunteer in the field or industry. Get the facts anyway you can so you can make an informed decision.

People who love their careers are able to live each day fully in the present instead of waiting for the day they retire. When you experience joy in one area of your life, it can't help but spill over into other areas too,

 

The above is an excerpt from The Last Job Search Guide You'll Ever Need: How to Find and Get the Job or Internship of Your Dreams, which is available for sale for $19.85 in our bookstore or $27.00 at Amazon.com but for free to those who subscriber to our free career newsletter. This hot new book contains job search secrets of the most experienced, most knowledgeable and most respected career experts. Learn career planning, job hunting tools and tactics, interviewing, cover letter and resume writing (lots of samples!), networking, and how to find an internship. Written by 149 career experts. To receive a free copy, subscribe to our free career newsletter.

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