Contents
   Career Coaching - What Is It?
   Step 1: Self Assessment
   Step 2: Resume Preparation
   Step 3: Crafting Cover Letters
   Step 4: Targeted Job Campaign
   Allen & Associates - Career Coaching Experts

Going About Self Assessment

Start by doing some real soul searching. Ask yourself the hard questions:

• What am I good at?
• What am I not so good at?
• What do I like doing?
• Can I now relocate / travel easier than when the kids were younger?
• Can I work on a contract/interim/consulting basis?
• What skills do I need to update in order to stay current?
• How have my personal and family obligations changed over the years?

When your self-assessment is complete, formulate your findings into a cohesive statement. Write it down! Create a product description of yourself. What do you bring to the table? This is what employers want to know. This is what you need to define. If you are able to accomplish this task successfully, then move on to the next step. If you are stymied, or coming up empty-handed, or vacillating over what you are and what you think you are or what you want to be, then you may need some professional assistance. Some executives are so entrenched in what they do today, that they are not able to formulate a plan for tomorrow.

A Career Coach that I know, when working with executives often has the executive prepare a written plan for the future. When that plan is reviewed and found to be severely limited by tradition and outdated thinking, he places the written document in a large bowl and ignites it. Burns it in front of the client! When the executive expresses amazement, confusion or even anger, the coach then advises that they have now begun the process of destroying traditional patterns and igniting a new career process. Dramatic but very effective!

A survey of executives in career transition, found that a full 86% could benefit from self-assessment, but didn't feel comfortable seeking outside help. "Video coaching affords a third-party perspective to self-assessment, without leaving the privacy of your home," says Bruce Scoville of Barton Industries. "Clarifying where you've been successful, and which responsibilities were most enjoyable is critical information to a successful career transition."

Information gained during self-assessment proves invaluable during resume creation, and it's exactly what's needed for those tough interviews. Barton Industries' video-based product, "How to Find the Job of Your Dreams", steps anyone through career transition sessions including, 1) Self-assessment, 2) Creating a power resume, 3) Marketing yourself, 4) Interview Preparation and 5) Be the "Candidate of Choice" with effective follow-ups. Special sections include, "Get Paid for What You Like to Do" and "Work and Live in Paradise".

Sometimes people don’t have the self-awareness to accurately self-access themselves. In these cases, a professionally administered personality test may be a better option. If you would like help, try talking to our expert career coaching service, Allen & Associates.

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