Article Category : Career Management, Work Place

If you are dissatisfied with your job, you are in a self-imposed career slump!

Why are so many of us in career slumps? Bottom line?we are not doing work that satisfies us! No matter what our employer does for us, if we are not doing work we really want to be doing, in a way that fits our desired life-style, we will never be satisfied.

What keeps us in career slumps for so long? The number one thing that keeps us in our slumps is that we believe the “myths” we were told!

1. We believe, “I can’t make money doing work I love.” Yet reality gives us a ton of examples of people who are wealthy and happy doing the work they do.

2. We believe, “In order to be happy, I need to find my purpose.” Yet reality shows us that there are plenty of people doing work they love who have no clue what their “true” purpose is.

3. We believe, “To get better, I must work on my weaknesses.” Yet reality shows us time and again that the most successful people are those who focus on their strengths.

4. We believe, “I am a victim of outside circumstances.” Yet reality shows us people who get jobs they love when the job market is supposedly “bad”.

5. We believe, “I have no choice.” Yet reality shows us people who believe they always have a choice and have built great lives and careers.

If you are not doing work you love then you are in a career slump and you most likely remain there because of your belief in one or more of these myths.

If you can’t come to terms with these myths, no amount of resume writing, personality testing, or job searching will ever change your situation.

It’s time to bust these myths and start pursuing work you REALLY want. How do you do that?

-Start with getting clear and more importantly honest about what you REALLY want to be doing.

-Once you are clear, commit yourself to only taking actions and making choices that support what you want.

-Finally, get the support you need to get clear, stay focused while taking action and change your beliefs to create your new truths:

“I am making money doing work I love!”

“I know my purpose is to continually focus on what I want!”

“I know using my strengths is where my happiness lies!”

“I know I can control what I think about my career choices!”

“I ALWAYS have a choice!”

Being in a career slump is no fun and takes some work to get out of. Finding the right support is critical to your success!

Eliminating these myths is the best way to jump-start you out of your slump and start moving you toward work that will REALLY satisfy you!

Doreen Banaszak is a career coach, teacher & Founder of the “90-Day Get Your Career UnSlumped Challenge”. Register today for the “The Fastest Way to GetUnSlumped & Create Work that Satisfies You” 1 hour Tele-Workshop. Call in and learn how to overcome the 4 primary reasons why 56% of the population remains dissatisfied with their work. Register at http://www.getunslumped.com!

Four Important Questions to Ask Your Interviewer; Do You Really Want to Work for This Person?

Article Category : Interview Tips, Career Management, Work Place, Recruiters Press

Many job seekers miss a golden opportunity when they are asked towards the end of an interview if they爃ave any questions. If they feel the interviewer adequately explained the position, they make the mistake of answering “No” to this question. But this is the perfect time to find out if you really want to work for this person!?After all, even a wonderful job can turn into a miserable experience if you don’t get along with the person you work for.

Here’s how to find out if the boss will be as great as the job — ask these questions during the interview:

1.?”What’s your ideal employee like?”?Asking this question will give you an idea of what this boss would expect from you. Listen carefully to the answer and deduce what it will mean for you.?For example, if her ideal employee works independently, you’ll know this boss is not a爉icromanager. If her ideal employee follows procedures without question, you’ll know it may be an uphill battle to implement changes or new ideas. If her ideal employee works long hours, don’t expect to leave on time every night.

2.?”What are the other people in the office like?”?Does this boss really know the people who work for her? Does she list their accomplishments with pride or say something vague and unimpressive??Note her tone of voice when she talks about her team. Is she enthusiastic or disappointed?

3.?”How does an employee succeed on your team?” Hopefully she’ll give you something more enlightening than “Do the job right.”?You want to learn what standards are expected. For example, if it’s a sales position, will you be expected to exceed a specific dollar value in sales or obtain a percentage of satisfied customers? So if her answer is too generic, you may have to follow up with more questions to get specifics.?Ask about the typical career path for an employee who successfully meets goals.

4.?”How do you go about solving problems?”?How she answers this question can give you insight into her management style. Does she prefer to take charge when things go wrong, or encourage her team to develop solutions?

In addition to the answers themselves, note this person’s overall attitude about answering these questions. If she was open to them and answered thoughtfully, she’s probably someone who enjoys promoting good working relationships.?If you’re offered the job, you shouldn’t have any hesitations about working for this person.?But if she appeared to resent the questions and didn’t answer them to your satisfaction, she’s not someone you’d
want to work for.

It’s better to know this sooner rather than later!?

Bonnie Lowe is author of the popular Job Interview Success System and free information-packed ezine, “Career-Life Times.” Find those and other powerful career-building resources and tips at her website: http://www.best-interview-strategies.com.

Salary Negotiation: How To Earn More Money and Respect From Your Employer

Article Category : Career Management, Self Improvement

Despite how important fair pay is to most of us, effective salary negotiation is an often misunderstood and avoided topic. Current research indicates the average duration of a position today is 3.8 years. Over the lifespan of your career, how well you negotiate raises or starting pay will have an enormous cumulative effect on the quality of your life.

So why does this skill remain elusive for many career professionals?

Most of us do thorough research and prepare extensively for a job interview. We create the perfect resume, slave over cover letter drafts, and rehearse answers to anticipated interview questions. We make sure we’re dressed right, have references, and are on time. But all too often, only cursory attention is given to thinking through how, when, and why we’ll end up being happy with the terms of our pay.

One problem is that cultural taboos in our society make talking about money a no-no. Many of us regard money negotiation as inherently unseemly, or we feel guilty about not accepting what’s been offered so nicely. Isn’t haggling supposed to take place if you’re buying hand-made rugs somewhere in Turkey?

We want to believe that the first offer we hear should be the highest dollar figure possible; moreover, we don’t want to “rock the boat” and potentially ruin our chances of landing that great job. That voice inside of us whispers “Everything in this interview has been going great! Don’t wreck it now!”.

Like it or not, though, you’re a negotiator. You can’t get off this ride. Negotiation routinely takes place in dozens of ways in our daily lives. Given the fact that you will make or lose several thousand dollars in the span of a few minutes, learning how to respectably negotiate your pay is vital! Notice I say respectably.

Unfortunately, I see countless candidates who either come off way too aggressively, or much too meekly, for their own good. This is often because of a lack of self-preparation and practice. Many candidates also fail to realize their position in the marketplace and the position of the employer. Not good!

The good news is that salary negotiation skills can be learned or improved upon. Here are seven key tips to being paid what you’re worth while maintaining a healthy respect others have for you:

? Don’t believe that effectively negotiating your salary means that you must have the mentality of a used-car salesperson! You aren’t being slippery, out of line or ungrateful to not accept the first figure that’s tossed out. Most employers value candidates who clearly possess self-respect and confidence in themselves; these qualities are revealed through the skill and poise in how you negotiate your pay-they are aso revealed if you do nothing.

Think about it: Doesn’t it make sense that if you demonstrate effective negotiation capabilities for yourself, that in turn you’ll negotiate smartly for your employer, too? Hiring managers pick up on this.

? Do remember that your value is far more important than a number somewhere on a spreadsheet. Yes, this is true despite common cries that “payroll budgets being fixed, this is the best we can do” or “in this economy, you must be realistic.” Employers by and large are not searching for “cheap bargains” but want value in their employees.

A common misconception is “I’ll have a better chance of getting the job if I don’t ask for much money-I won’t cost as much as other candidates.” Don’t go there! Concentrate on the value you bring, not how little you cost. By the way, if you do this properly, the question of “previous salary history” should be much less relevant. This means you will have a better chance at jumping to higher ranges faster in your career.

? Don’t (and I mean never) accept any form of benefits before you negotiate your salary. Why? Once some form of compensation other than salary is accepted by you, the employer has leverage in justifying why your salary should be lower. Remember to always get agreement on the starting salary first. Then negotiate non-salary benefits and special considerations afterwards.

? Do delay talking about compensation; try to discuss your value, and the specific benefits you can bring to the table, for as long as possible. The employer should perceive you as a valuable, one-of-a-kind resource-not an off-the-shelf good with a price tag.

Think of those high-end infomercials that delay revealing what the price of the offer is until the very end (if at all). The whole point of the infomercial is to draw your attention to the value of the good or service and its many different uses and applications.

Certainly something that clearly validates a gain or cost-savings of $25,000.00 would be attractively valued at $2,499.99. But would you really pay attention to an ad that immediately said its cost was $2,499.99? Probably not! The same psychology applies to salary negotiation. The longer the interview process continues, the more likely you will be regarded as a valuable resource obviously worthy of upper-range pay.

? Don’t accept any offer, no matter how lucrative, on the spot. Instead, express your continued interest in the position and how you clearly see yourself making contributions (specify them one more time again). Then always ask for 24 hours to consider the offer. Certainly a day will give the hiring manager time to find any necessary “wiggle room”, if need be.

Be passionate and excited, but don’t lose your objectivity-any position that will be the center of your daily professional life for years to come won’t melt in 24 hours. Right?

? Do remember the old axiom “he (or she) who speaks first loses.” Wait until an offer has been made-but don’t respond immediately. Remember that in many cases, what is initially offered to you may be the lowest figure the hiring manager dares to put forward.

This is mission critical territory: Often, even casual remarks made by you constitute implied acceptance of the offer…Which can quickly become explicit acceptance as the conversation moves on. Don’t let this happen! Instead, intentionally steer the conversation back to the responsibilities of the position. Who will you be supervising? What are some tangible, specific contributions you see yourself making? Where do you picture yourself in the organization in the future?

The greater long-term picture you create, the greater the likelihood you will negotiate more effectively. You can only really begin to negotiate after you have clearly brought to life realistic present and future scenarios.

? Don’t over-negotiate. How do you know when to recognize what is too little or too much? By researching your market ahead of time. Don’t just go to www.salary.com and think you “should” be earning a certain dollar figure without taking into consideration the unique opportunities every employer possesses. This is not really true research.

A salary is compensation paid for services performed. Your salary should be commensurate with your skills and experience built yesterday, but negotiated for the work you will be doing today and tomorrow. Remember, you don’t get what you deserve in life…You get what you negotiate!

Would you like more help? Check out this month’s HireWorks Recommends for some great resources.

Special Offer! This month we will review 10 Resumes at no charge. Find out what improvements you can make to get the attention of hiring managers and land that important first interview! Click Here to submit yourself to be among the first 10 people to respond!

Biography: Lucia Apollo Shaw is the President and CEO of HireWorks, Inc. HireWorks is a professional search firm specializing in the Life Sciences. HireWorks offers research services, contract staffing, and permanent placement services.

She has been helping her customers for nearly 9 years - working both as a third party recruiter for CDI Corp (staffing customers like IBM), Trilogy Consulting (now Venturi Partners) staffing the Biotech and Pharmaceutical industry and in places like Duke University where she was a corporate recruiter and Team Leader for recruitment for Duke University Hospital. Lucia earned a B.A. from the State University of NY (University Center at Albany) and pursued Graduate Studies in Public Administration at the Sage Graduate School in Albany, NY.

To subscribe the The Hiring Insider please visit http://www.hiringinsider.com

Category : job, package

Think Twice Before You Change Jobs

Article Category : Career Management, Self Improvement

You’ve got the itch to change jobs. This might be a good time to make the move.

The Wall Street Journal has just reported, “Job-seekers from rank-and-file workers to senior executives are preparing their resumes for what may be the strongest fall hiring season in years.”

“Before you jump to a new job, be certain you have good, sound reasons for wanting to make a change,” advises Ramon Greenwood, senior career counselor at Common SenseAtWork.com. “You may believe you can accelerate your career with a new job. You may be bored or running away from personal problems.”

First, ask yourself, “Are there things I can do to make my present situation more acceptable?”

Don’t be lulled into believing that the grass will necessarily be greener in another pasture. Or that a new pasture will be a great deal different from the one you are grazing in now.

Except in the most extreme reasons, do not leave your present job until you have another one firmly in hand. If it was ever true that a bird in hand is worth two in the bush, it is when a job is concerned. Remember, it is always easier to get a job when you have one.

What Do You Want?

Take the time to figure out what you really want to do.

What will it take to make you happier? It is not enough to know what you want to change from; you need to know what you want to change to.

Be specific in answering these questions. Don’t allow yourself to be driven by a sense of vague malaise to make a change just for the sake of change. If you can’t spell out in writing the valid reasons you want to move to a new job and be equally specific about what you want that job to be, don’t set the process in motion.

Recognize that you are contemplating a serious and difficult undertaking, even under the best of circumstances. There is always some risk to your present situation when you start looking around. What will your present employer think if the word gets around that you are “looking”? At best, the whole process is usually disruptive and can be traumatic for you and your loved ones. Determine that you have the courage to live with the dangers and uncertainties of making a change.

Survey the situation. Be sure there is a market for the skills you have to offer where you want to live.

If You Go, Go Full Speed Ahead

If, after giving the matter careful thought, you are convinced you would be better off in a new situation, go for it full speed ahead. The search for a new job is not a time for half-measures. To vacillate between courting new employers and sitting back in a coy mode, hoping to be courted, will surely breed frustration. Mount a campaign and invest whatever time and energy are required to reach your objective.

If you have something to offer that the market wants, you will find a new job. However, it will take time. There may come a point when you decide that by comparison your present situation looks quite attractive. So you may decide to stay put, at least for the time being. So don’t burn bridges behind you.

And don’t worry about there being a stigma attached to changing jobs. A lot of other people are shopping for new jobs at any given time. It has been estimated that today’s college graduates can expect that on average they will have held eight different jobs by the time they are 40.

In fact, some personnel recruiters argue that your resume will be stronger if it shows some changes in jobs, so long as the reasons for changing are positive.

Ramon Greenwood is former senior vice president of American Express; a professional director for various businesses; a consultant; a published author of career related books and a syndicated column. Senior career counselor for http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com.

Visit http://www.CommonSenseAtWork.com, to sign up for his f#ee semimonthly newsletter or contact him at ramon@CommonSenseAtWork.com

Five Facts You Must Know When Changing Careers

Article Category : Career Management

Too often in life, we fail. We fail not because we set our goals to high and miss achieving our aspirations. Instead, we fail because we set our dreams too low and we achieve them. If we achieve what we set out to do then how is this considered to be a failure? Failure occurs when we are not fulfilling our highest aspirations. Theresa Castro, executive career coach and author of The Dark Before the Dawn: 70 Secrets to Self-discovery, provides insight on what anyone can do while they are in the midst of wanting to change careers.

ADOPT THE INNONENCE OF A CHILD

We begin our lives as children with lofty goals. For example, a child might decide that they would like to grow up and become an astronaut and travel to the moon. This child doesn’t have the ability to place any limitations on themselves. They don’t think about what degree they need to possess in order to be an astronaut. They don’t become worried about all of the details that are necessary to achieve this dream. Instead, the child just knows that they are passionate about space exploration. When you are in the midst of a career change, think and dream like a child. Let your passions lead you in a direction that is right for you.

ELIMINATE ANY LIMITATIONS

Society, friends and/or family members can put a damper on your hopes and tell you that you are incapable of achieving your highest vision. You may be told that you are too old, not smart enough, don’t have enough money, don’t have the right education or experience or just simply are the wrong race or sex. The reality of these limitations exists only in the mind. You have the choice to either believe or doubt the limitations. That’s right, you have a choice. You can choose to be like the great composer, Beethoven, who was once told by his music teacher that as a composer he was hopeless. Beethoven recognized that he would not be stopped by the label that his music teacher placed on him even despite the fact that he was deaf.

GET RID OF THE PEOPLE WHO DON’T SUPPORT YOU

When you are changing careers, you may find that you struggle with your own bouts of self-doubt. The last thing that you need is for other people to tell you what you should and shouldn’t be doing especially when you recognize that they are not fully supporting your efforts. With these people (and we all have them in our lives), you will need to advise them that you love and care for them but you would appreciate if they kept their comments about your ambitions to themselves. If you don’t eliminate outer sources of negativity, you will find your passions getting buried deep inside yourself.

RECOGNIZE THAT MONEY IS AS PLENTIFUL AS THE AIR

People sometimes don’t pursue a particular career path because they believe that they won’t make the same or more money than what they are currently earning. Again, recognize that this belief is a limitation. Work towards eliminating these thought patterns. Instead, realize that with any and every job, you have the potential to make as much money as you desire. That’s right. You can make as much money as you desire. Even though Henry Ford was poor and uneducated, he dreamed of a horseless carriage and his dream became a reality of what we know today as the automobile. Thus, you must have the mindset that money is just as plentiful as air.

Do you ever find yourself concerned that you might not have enough air? Do you keep track of the number of breaths that you are taking within the day so that you don’t run out? The answer is no and in fact someone would think that you are crazy if you thought that you were going to experience an air shortage. The same is true for money. The mindset of plenty is the first step in creating the wealth that accompanies your passions.

LOOK AHEAD

The best way to squelch your fears is to keep your eyes focused on the dream that you desire. Stephen Covey says that you should have the end in mind. Ask yourself, what do you ultimately want to become? What do you want people to say about you when you die? When you stay focused on your dream, it becomes easier to attain since you can then develop the necessary steps that will take you from where you are today to where you want to be. Making a career change then becomes less daunting and more systematic.

Keep in mind that if you work 40 hours per week then you will work about 2000 hours per year. Even if you are five years away from retirement, could you fathom doing your job for another 10,000 more hours? If not, make a change in your career. Your future and happiness are waiting for you!

Theresa Castro, MBA, dedicates her life to assist others to stop dreading the workday and to discover a passionate and fulfilling career. She is a career coach and author of The Dark Before the Dawn: 70 Secrets to Self-discovery and The Secrets to Discovering Your Dream Job. Visit http://www.DiscoverYourDreamJob.com for more information and to sign up for a free 3 day mini-course.

How to Manage Your Career Like a Business

Article Category : Career Management, Work Place

Look upon yourself as a company with a product or service to sell. Understand your market and devise a dynamic marketing campaign, remembering that companies hire employees who offer them the best results and the best value for money.

Begin by identifying your skills, qualifications, and accomplishments. Adopt a customer-focused approach. What benefits and results can you offer employers? Are your skills marketable and up-to-date?

Employers are in the market for team-players and problem-solvers. They want to see evidence in your CV or resume of specific, quantifiable accomplishments.

Determine what additional skills you need to develop to make yourself more marketable. Take advantage of all opportunities for continuous learning and professional development.

Successful businesses win customers by developing a unique selling proposition. To give yourself a competitive advantage, analyse what other employees in your field are offering. It is not enough to emulate them; you must strive to differentiate yourself by offering something extra, something unique.

Try to assess yourself as objectively as possible in order to identify your marketable features. Analyse your performance appraisals and, if possible, enlist the help of a trusted friend or colleague to help you evaluate yourself.

Define and prioritise your short-term and long-term career goals.

Study recruitment websites and the appointments pages of newspapers to familiarise yourself with the current requirements of employers.

Your CV/resume should be fine-tuned regularly and kept up-to-date to enable you to make a swift and targeted response to any suitable job opportunity that arises.

Learn all you can about job search strategies, job-specific resumes, and professional interview techniques.

By adopting a planned and proactive approach, you will maximise your chances of landing the job that best fits your skills and personality, and increase the likelihood of achieving your long-term career goals.

Gerard McLoughlin, author of ‘Four Minutes To Interview Success’, has contributed career-related articles to hundreds of recruitment companies, websites and publications throughout the world, including: USA Today, JobBankUSA.com, US-Recruiters.com, etc.

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Category : intraprenuer

Getting the Job thats Right for You

Article Category : Candidate Planning, Career Management

I’m the type of person that considers a healthy, enjoyable job alot more valuable than a high paying one. This may be as foreign a concept to some people as our society continues to descend into the depths of materialism. Id gladly take a job doing something i loved and with people i enjoyed for a bit less money than I would have pocketed working at the vomitoriam.

So, amidst the whirlwind of resumes, applications and soul scorching interviews, take a moment to consider the environment of your workplace-to be. Have a chat with one of the low-level employees, and if they stare back at you with dull dead eyes, then you might want to reconsider your placement.

Even if your not making the big bucks right away, even the most un-motivated types will quickly rise in the ranks due the the enjoyment of the work. Its as simple as this “we like to do what we like to do”. And trust me, if you think finding such a job impossible, know that people get paid to do all kinds of strange and even fun things. Take for instance the professional wine taster. Or perhaps the guy who gets to test the water slides after their manufacturing.

Remember to keep these words in the back of your mind, and hopefully you’ll the job that’s really right for you.

Josh Nay
Creator and webmaster of the employment and job finding resource
http://employmentsolutions4u.com
Find The Jobs 4u

Find the Right People, for the Right Job

Article Category : Career Management, Work Place

If you are a business owner, many times you can’t handle all the business’s tasks alone.  Many times it is important to hire a person that is willing to help you out.  Finding great help can sometimes be difficult.  If you are trying to find the person for a job, here are some tips.

Hiring a person can take some time, so don’t expect that within three days or so to have a great person working for you.  It is important to either place an ad in the paper, online or use word of mouth.  The best way to raise your chances of hiring a great worker is to pay a higher wage and to allow some flexibility in the job.  Many people would love a job and can give you their time, energy and brain, but they sometimes have kids or need a certain schedule.  If you are more accommodating, you can be much more attractive to the labor force.

If you just need a body, then it you can always hire temp workers.  This way you don’t have to deal with benefits and other formalities and if they don’t work out you don’t have to be committed to them.  If a temp worker is great for your business, you can always talk to the agency and switch their status.  So if you are looking for great help, take a look at the above tips.

Create Your Plan B Before the Layoff Axe Falls

Article Category : Candidate Planning, Career Management

In one short week, the axe fell at a number of companies and thousands of employees were without jobs. Hewlett Packard, Kodak, Ford Motor Company of Canada, PNC Financial and Kimberley Clark each had to make critical business decisions and lay off large numbers of employees. Reasons ranged from “maintaining a tighter rein on costs” to creating a “simpler nimbler” organization”. Although the news is usually shocking, layoffs don’t just happen. There are usually some subtle signs that changes are coming. How does one prepare for such an eventuality? By having a plan in place…creating a Plan B. Make it your responsibility to manage your own career, to swim out and meet your ship, not wait until it comes ashore. Such a mindset will help lessen the impact of a layoff, and will enable you to weather the storm if and when it comes. Here are some tips to help with your preparation:

1. Keep an eye out for tell-tale signs in your company. If you are becoming a bit jittery at work because things just don’t seem right, conduct your own due diligence. Has the company been in the news lately? What for? Did it meet analysts’ expectations? Did it have a management shakeup? Are there dramatic fluctuations of its share price? This is not to suggest that you become paranoid, but don’t become the ostrich with its head in the sand either. The answers to these questions will be a good indicator of where your company is heading.

2. Take advantage of learning opportunities offered by the company. These may be formal training where you attend classes outside of work, or free in-house courses offered as lunch-and-learn programs. Don’t forget the Internet which offers a variety of learning opportunities. Although your job may appear safe at the moment, you shouldn’t stop learning. Henry Ford once said, “Anyone who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80?”.

3. Be on the lookout for internal vacancies, and assess yourself to see if your skills match the requirements. Speak with someone within that department to gather additional information about the position and then submit your application.

4. Find out if there are opportunities to job-shadow another employee or be cross-trained on a system. Such initiatives will help to prepare you for your next career move, whether within or outside the company.

5. Make yourself indispensable (at least give it a try) by keeping abreast of industry developments. Arrange informational interviews to learn more about a field you are interested in, or to keep current with trends in your industry. Watch, listen and read the news and see if you can use any of the knowledge gained to enhance your current position.

6. Start a journal of your special achievements, comments made by your supervisor or coworkers and awards and recognitions received. Review your performance appraisals. What did your supervisor say about you? Did you work on a special project? Were you a member of a team that developed a system which added to the company’s profitability? These notes will come in handy when you are ready to brush up your r閟um?

7. Develop and nurture a network of contacts, even if you’re not yet looking for a job. Many people have the misconception that networking is done only when one is job hunting. It is an ongoing process; it takes time to grow, but will be valuable when faced with a layoff or when changing careers.

8. Join a professional association and contribute. You’ll learn new skills, meet new people and build credibility among your peers. Many organizations send their job postings to some of these associations before they hit the newspapers. Saying you are a member of a professional association will be a great addition to your r閟um?

9. There might be someone whom you admire in or outside your company. Ask if you could discuss your uncertainties or your career plans with them. It’s not a weakness to ask for help.

10. There are times when a layoff is just what you may need to propel you to action; to change careers; to do something different. Redirect your energy into something productive and don’t feel sorry for yourself. Take a long hard look at where you are in your career. Are you satisfied? Have you reached a plateau in the company? Is it time for a change?

After all this, if you are still uncertain about your future, enlist the help of a career coach who can steer you in the right direction. Whatever you do, make proactive choices now; not reactive ones later.

Daisy Wright is the president and founder of The Wright Career Solution. She is a trained Career Development Practitioner, who has been empowering individuals to find career success through effective coaching strategies. Daisy can be contacted at (905) 840-7039 or through her website at http://www.thewrightcareer.com

Copyright 2005 ? Daisy Wright. All rights reserved. This article from The Wright Career Solution may be distributed or reproduced providing the copyright and website are included.

Category : layoff, plans

Why Well Produced Career Portfolios Are Replacing CVs

Article Category : Candidate Planning, Career Management

What is a Career Portfolio?

The original portfolio used by artists looking for work was simply a collection of works demonstrative of the artists style and ability. Because their works varied in size and shape, portfolios came in all sizes and shapes. Fashion designers would lug a box of their clothing and accessory designs from interview to interview hoping for the big break. Potential employers or commission agents could view the art or garments and decide if applicants were likely to be able to paint or design what they had in mind. In more recent days, people such as architects, whose work has a personal dimension, carried rolls of drawings and photographs to interviews.

Now others have realised the potential of portfolios and jumped onto the bandwagon, but with electronic and physical portfolios.

A portfolio is, according to a dictionary, “A portable case for holding material, such as loose papers, photographs, or drawings. The materials collected in such a case, especially when representative of a person’s work: a photographer’s portfolio; an artist’s portfolio of drawings.”

A reworked definition could perhaps refer to a portfolio as, “a collection of evidence, nicely presented, that job applicants show prospective employers to help present their case.” It might also be an online or electronic portfolio. But whatever we call it, it differs from a Curriculum Vitae or Resume.

Differences between a Portfolio and a Resume

While a resume presents a summary of a job seekers qualifications, experience and special attainments etc, it doesn’t necessarily contain verifiable evidence. This verifiability of evidence has become a challenge for HR professionals as the number of false claims to teriary qualifications and experience increase. A portfolio contains original documentation and certification from appropriate authorities and is therefore less likely to be fraudulent.

This is a great benefit both to the recruiting people and job applicants.

How is a Career Portfolio presented?

If you load a search engine and type “career portfolio” into the search field and press enter, you’ll find dozens of online portfolios. These are excellent tools for such people as photographers, graphic designers and others whose work is highly visual and capable of being displayed cost effectively and efficiently.

I tell my clients to place their original documentation in a binder containing plastic envelopes with heading pages dividing each topic eg,

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