May people are trying to find a career coach. Coaches have the skills and knowledge to advise, support, and encourage their client.
 
Career coaches help their clients to:

• Make sound decisions
• Take effective actions
• Resolve their challenges in the most efficient way possible
• Learn from the process, so they can repeat it whenever they want

 
A career coach also has the ability to remain detached from the issues at hand.

​Consider the wise words of Albert Einstein: 

Maybe. Maybe not.

• Are you at a point where NOT taking action is costing you time and money?
  
• Do you feel stuck in your struggles?
  
• Could you use encouragement and sage advice in moving forward?

How to evaluate a job offer: 

1. Set goals. It’s easier to analyze a job offer when you have a clear vision of your career path. Goals enable you to think long-term and focus on how any position can prepare you for your next step.
   
   
2. Weigh the evidence. What are the pros and cons? Identify your priorities. Maybe you’re willing to accept a longer commute in exchange for tuition reimbursements that would enable you to complete a degree.
   
   
3. Consult your feelings. Emotions matter too. That sinking sensation in your stomach could be minor jitters or serious misgivings.
   
   
4. Talk it over. What would you tell a friend in the same situation? Ask someone you trust for feedback. A third party may be able to see things more objectively.
   
   
5. Sleep on it. Recruiters and employers may be pressuring you for a quick decision. If possible, give yourself at least one night to mull things over and gather more information if needed.
   
   
6. Maximize your options. Money troubles are sometimes unavoidable. However, if you can build up your savings, you’ll have more flexibility for extending your job search until you find an opportunity that truly excites you.

• ​Choose your medium. Any channel from email to a personal meeting can be appropriate depending on your previous interactions. When in doubt, you may want to reply to a job offer the same way that it was delivered.

1. Show appreciation. Express your gratitude. Let them know that you appreciate their time and consideration.
   
   
2. Use tact. Most companies will want to know why you’re turning them down. You may be able to provide them with helpful feedback without being too critical. It’s okay to keep it brief.
   
   
3. Be prompt. Avoid causing any further delay. Sending your response in a timely manner will help the company to move ahead with its hiring process.
   
   
4. Stay in touch. There could still be valuable opportunities in the future. If you see such potential, let the company know that you’re interested in hearing about other developments and invite your contacts to connect on platforms like LinkedIn.

 

If you relish the opportunity to change, consider these Top 10 Tips for reinventing yourself: 
​

1. Avoid giving in to what is expected, reasonable, sensible, or appropriate. The point here is to enjoy yourself. For example:
   
   
   • If you’ve been ‘the grey suit guy’ all your life and you want to be the Hawaiian Shirt guy, just do it.
     
     
   • If you’ve been ‘the modest condo guy’, and you secretly lusted after a penthouse suite with views of the ocean, find one.
     
     
   • And if you’ve always been the ‘BMW sedan guy’ but love the idea of driving a 55 Chevy pick-up, this is your time to shine. People will notice that you live life according to your own rules, and you can enjoy every minute of it!
     
     
2. If you’re in a new job or locale, this is a time to make new friends. Choose carefully and wisely. You don’t need to be everybody’s friend.
   
   
   • Keep your circle small. Sound people out and use your new friends to sound out new places and potential new hobbies too. Others will notice that you’re friendly but have a private side too.
     
     
3. Practice being a great listener. You’ll be amazed at what you can learn about people, places, and everything else if you just listen. Ask lots of questions. You’re new here and others will expect you to ask questions. Ask some good ones…and listen.
   
   
   • A surprising perk of this technique is that others will refer to you as a great conversationalist!
     
     
4. Take time to explore the area …. alone. You’ll notice and appreciate more if you’re alone. Take pictures and make notes. It will make for great conversations later!
   
   
5. Be a good neighbor. Take time to help others. Practice random acts of kindness at every opportunity.
   
   
   • Others will appreciate you and speak well of you, especially if you help with no thought of a reward. Do it because you can and for no other reason.
     
     
6. Stand up and speak out for things you have a passion for. Let others know that you are both willing and able to make your point, debate an issue, or speak up for those who have no voice. People will notice that you are selfless and put others before yourself.
   
   
7. Start early. Show that you have a zest for life and can’t wait to get at it each day. Walk quickly and with purpose. Always be the first to volunteer for everything.
   
   
   • You will win some and you will lose some, but overall, you will win because everyone will know you as the one who is up for everything.
     
     
8. Be generous with your praise for everybody who has earned it. Giving credit to others will show how much you appreciate them, and it will come back to you tenfold.
   
   
9. Keep yourself fit and healthy. Set a good example. You don’t have to go crazy - just eat healthy, drink plenty of water, and do some form of exercise that raises your heart rate for 30 minutes each day.
   
   
   • The pay-off is phenomenal. Others will notice you and be inspired, which, in turn, will inspire you to continue.
     
     
10. Thank others - for everything, all the time. Show your gratitude to as many people as you can, as often as you can. Most people are starved of thanks for a job well done, for sharing their wisdom, or for acknowledging their kindness.
    
    
    • People will appreciate you forever if you show them gratitude for good words and deeds.

 
Most of the time, our mind runs on autopilot because how we show up in life is directed by our subconscious mind. When you turn the job over to your conscious mind and really put some thought into it, amazing things can happen.

​One of the biggest reasons you get tired of a job is that you're doing the same thing every day. If you happen to love what you do, that's great, but if not it's time to break out of the box. Besides, learning a new skill adds value to your career. If you've been doing server work for a long time, take the time to learn other skills. If you're an Exchange specialist, learn some Linux skills.

​Not very many of us get to work for the same company for the rest of our IT careers. The only job security is the security you give yourself, and one of the ways to get that security is to add professional certifications to your resume. Certifications get you noticed and help you stand out from the crowd. Ask yourself what your resume would look like if you were laid off today, and then take steps to improve yourself and your professional standing.

Be prepared to take one step backwards in order to take multiple steps forward.

You may be in a situation one of my clients was in a while back when his employer saw him as strictly a server guy. My client wanted to get on the Cisco side of things, but there was this perception that he was "only a LAN guy". He had to leave that company to get his shot. There was some short-term financial pain, but in the long run it was the best career move he had ever made.
 
People get typecast in every field. In his book "Often Wrong, Never In Doubt", Donny Deutsch writes about a job candidate who wanted to become a junior ad executive, but couldn't break in with his current employer which was an ad agency! He was typecast in a support role, so he applied to other ad firms and was quickly hired.
 
Sometimes you have to look outside your current situation in order to create a new situation for yourself. Don't be afraid to take a step backwards in order to open up new possibilities for yourself. There's an amazing career out there, waiting for you if you have the courage to make it and take it.​

Recently, I have been searching and writing about the precise meaning of many words that have to do with our endurance and survival. I started to write about the meanings of efficiency, discipline, resilience, productivity, and hope, just to name a few. 
​

​I always thought productivity was the key to success. Later, I realized success has a recipe of its own with many ingredients. Aside from the above-mentioned traits, one of the most important characteristics is PERSEVERANCE.
​
To define perseverance, it's best to start with the dictionary. Dictionary.com defines perseverance as follows:
​

Alongside Dictionary.com, there is always Thesaurus.com and this is how it lists the synonyms for perseverance.
​

Perseverance adjectives are listed as perseverant and  persevering. You would think they mean the same thing, right? Here is what https://wikidiff.com/persevering/perseverant has to say about it.
​

​I have read that intellectual perseverance is harnessing one's intelligence and building a Never Quit attitude by leveraging the power of positive thinking in spite of increases in negative thinking. 

The Philosophical Life wrote an article in 2018 on Medium about intellectual perseverance and explained: 
"....Intellectual perseverance is a habit that comes from a love of learning. It’s the tendency to not give up on learning when the learning gets tough. Instead, you embrace intellectual struggle. You persist toward greater understanding. Intellectual perseverance is an intellectual virtue....."

Here is a little fable about Susan and her job search story. She persevered until she found her ideal  job and so can you. ​

​Susan was looking for a job, so she sent her resume all over town. She scoured the newspapers every day, and by the end of the month, Susan had applied to over one hundred openings.  “Surely,” Susan thought “I will find my dream job soon!”
 
But many days passed and Susan didn't hear back from any of the jobs where she had applied.  She began to worry – was there something wrong with her resume? 
 
Finally, two weeks after she sent in her 107th resume, she got a call for her first interview! Soon after, Susan got another two calls and she ended up with three interviews scheduled. “Finally,” she thought, “I’m one step closer to my dream job!”

​So Susan went to her interviews and she thought she made a wonderful impression, but to Susan’s disappointment, she only heard back about one job, and it was the lowest paid, least fulfilling opportunity of the three.
 
“Should I take it?”, she wondered.  The thought of working every day at a job she hated made her feel hopeless. Susan was afraid she might not find anything else, so she accepted the job, but vowed to continue looking for something better.
 
A few weeks after accepting the low-paying, unfulfilling job, Susan got a call from a company that hadn’t got back to her for weeks. It turns out they needed someone with Susan’s exact skill set!
 
Finally, after some hard work and persistence, Susan was offered the job of her dreams – the money was good and it was just the kind of work she was looking for. 

When we put in our best effort, we create opportunities, find opportunities, and opportunities will find us. When we allow disappointment and discouragement to take over, we don’t see the hidden gems right in front of our faces!
 
What if Susan had stopped the pursuit of her dream job when she took the dead-end position? What if she had allowed her disappointment to dictate her actions? What if she ignored the phone call about her dream job offer?
 
Well, she wouldn’t be very happy at all! She would be suffering an inner tension day in and day out.
 
We must continue to persevere and leverage the power of positive thinking even as negative thinking seems so much easier. It's an easier way to create results.
 
Opportunities will come. They always do when we work, wait, and watch for them.

Resilience is defined as the ability to recover quickly from adversity. The research shows that people are more likely to learn from difficult or traumatic situations (resilience) than not.

To define resilience, Dictionary.com writes as follows:
noun:

• the power or ability to return to the original form, position, etc., after being bent, compressed, or stretched; elasticity.
• ability to recover readily from illness, depression, adversity, or the like; buoyancy.

​

​There are several personal qualities that are considered ‘protective factors’ in individuals who are resilient. These factors are based on years of research.

The personal resiliency indicators are:

• Relationships – the ability to form positive relationships
• Helpfulness – gives of self to help others
• Life Skills – practices good life skills such as communication, problem solving, etc.
• Humor – ability to laugh at difficult situations
• Inner Guidance – uses internal guidance for making choices and coping with problems
• Perceptiveness – ability to understand people and situations
• Independence – ability to make choices that are best for oneself despite the norm
• Optimism – hopeful view of the future
• Adaptability – ability to adjust to changing needs and circumstances
• Love of learning – interest in and capacity to learn and grow
• Self-motivation – internally driven
• Competence – mastery of something that matters
• Self-worth – sees self as a worthy and worthwhile person
• Spirituality – faith in a power greater than oneself
• Perseverance – ability to keep on in the face of difficulty
• Creativity – use of imagination and expression through some artistic outlet

(Adapted from The Resiliency Workbook, Nan Henderson) 
 
Most people have some of these characteristics. We can build our resilience by developing traits and characteristics that we do not currently possess.

Not everything has changed.  If you experienced success with your job search strategies before the pandemic, you should still implement them. For example, if you are good at writing Thank You letters of if you are good at following-up, you should still practice your success techniques. 

​Companies hire employees who can solve problems for them. Sales people create revenue. Accountants ensure compliance with regulations and provide financial data that can be used for decision-making. Customer service staff help answer questions, keeping customers happy. Beyond what you do for a company, what is the impact that you have on the organization?
 
It’s even more important to highlight accomplishments on your résumé, LinkedIn profile, and career documents in a competitive job market.
 
Change careers, if necessary, to a new field. Assess your work history and identify older skills and/or experience you can leverage. Seek out opportunities for additional training and learning.

​The more specific you can be about the opportunity that you’re seeking, the more likely you will find it. Take some time to define what you’re looking for in your next job. Are you looking for a position that allows you to work remotely? Do you have a specific schedule you need — for example, because your children are engaging in remote schooling? Having a list of criteria like this can help you identify whether a position will be a good fit — or not.

​Be aware of which industries are holding steady or growing during the pandemic, and which ones are struggling. Focus on essential companies that are not affected by government shutdowns. Create a target list of companies. Researching your prospective employer is even more critical — be aware of changes affecting the company due to the pandemic. Set up Google Alerts to get informed about news affecting your ideal employers. Follow your target companies on LinkedIn. Subscribe to the company’s emails, blog, and social media channels.

​Networking is even more important for a job search during times of high unemployment. Meeting face-to-face or for coffee may not be an option right now, but you can connect virtually. Stay in touch through social media, phone calls, Zoom or FaceTime, email, text, and LinkedIn messages.

Prepare for an online job interview. Set up a specific space for the interview. Make sure it’s someplace quiet with no distractions. Conduct a practice session with a friend on Zoom. When it’s time for the actual interview, dress like you’re going to an in-person interview (head to toe!).
 
Don’t be surprised if you don’t hear back from the interviewer right away. Be patient. The hiring process will likely take even longer than normal. That’s true even if the company initially seemed in a hurry to hire. Do follow up, but don’t be a pest. Ask how the person is doing, and if there’s anything they need from you to move the process along.
 
If you do have a job offer that is put on hold, consider asking if you could work in a contract or temporary role in the meantime. For example, one national furniture rental company is currently in a hiring freeze, but they are staffing with contract/temporary workers in the meantime.

Unemployment numbers are expected to continue to fluctuate through the end of 2020 and into 2021. While the pandemic is new, looking for work in a challenging job market is not. You can supplement some of the “tried and true” job search techniques with special strategies that are necessary because of COVID-19. But there are no hard and fast rules for a job search in a pandemic, so be flexible!
 
Even if you are currently employed now, some companies have announced further layoffs and furloughs as the pandemic stretches into late 2020. It’s important to be prepared for what’s next. This means updating your résumé and LinkedIn profile and taking the time to track and document your accomplishments.
 
In addition, it may be useful to take some time to analyze your transferable skills and experience, particularly if you are in a declining industry or an industry that has been negatively affected by the pandemic.
 
Some things about the job search are the same:

• Companies are still looking to hire problem-solvers
• It’s important to use your network in your job search, as your contacts can help you identify unadvertised job opportunities and connect with hiring managers
• Having an accomplishment-focused, up-to-date résumé and LinkedIn profile can help you secure interviews

 
However, some things are different in a job search during the pandemic:

• Interviews for job opportunities are more likely to be virtual interviews (rather than in person)
• Human resources staffers are likely to be working remotely, and coordinating the hiring process can take more time than it did before the pandemic
• Opportunities for remote work are increasing, and if you are able to do your job remotely, there are even more opportunities, especially outside your current geographic area
• Temporary and short-term positions may be more plentiful. Companies may be wary of taking on permanent, full-time employees when their future is uncertain, but they still have needs to fulfill

 
One important thing to remember: Don’t automatically discard the things that worked for you before in your job search. If you have had success previously with a specific tactic — for example, working with recruiters, or tapping into the hidden job market, don’t write them off just because there is a pandemic.
 
“No One Is Hiring”
Your mindset is especially important when looking for a job during a pandemic. Companies are still hiring new employees. Want proof? Search for openings on job aggregator sites like Indeed.com, SimplyHired, or Monster. Check out the “Jobs on Facebook” feature (https://www.facebook.com/jobs/) or LinkedIn Jobs (https://www.linkedin.com/jobs/). You’ll see hundreds of open opportunities.
 
Companies in the shipping/delivery field are hiring, as are grocery stores and many healthcare facilities, including pharmacies. Information technology and technical support positions are also in high demand, as employees need more assistance with their computers and other devices when working from home.
 
Look for companies that are meeting pandemic-specific needs. These companies are now hiring for temporary, part-time, and short-term opportunities.
 
However, some industries are struggling. For example, hospitality companies — restaurants, airlines, resorts, hotels, and conference centers. Almost everything related to the entertainment industry has been affected. Colleges and universities are facing budget cuts as students defer returning to campus until the pandemic ends. Government organizations — often some of the steadiest employers — are also facing shortfalls affecting employment and hiring.
 
Even in companies that are hiring, there may still be uncertainty. The hiring timeline has grown longer in some cases. If the company is conducting multi-person interviews, it may take time to coordinate schedules so all the panelists are available at the same time. Some job openings may be put on hold temporarily as situations change in the business. You may even have a job offer rescinded if a company’s fortunes suddenly change.
 
If you’re suddenly unemployed, your next job may not be a full-time or permanent position. It may not be your dream job. But a short-term or temporary position may make it easier for you to weather the pandemic and be in a position to get a new role in the future. It’s often easier to get a job when you already have one. And some temporary and short-term roles may turn into permanent positions once the economy ramps back up again.
 
You may also find yourself going through a career change during the pandemic. Is there a way you can use your existing skills in a new industry in the short term? For example, if you were a Server in a restaurant, can you use your communication skills to work a remote customer service job? Or if you were an Event Coordinator for a hotel/conference center, could you use your project management capabilities to manage scheduling for a hospital?
 
If You’re Furloughed
The pandemic caused a number of companies to furlough employees. Many of these companies continue to pay employee benefits (such as health insurance) but the furlough allows workers to apply for unemployment.
 
If you’re still on furlough, develop a job search strategy in case your position is permanently eliminated. Start working now on updating your job search documents (résumé, cover letters, LinkedIn profile, etc.). so you can immediately start applying for positions if you find yourself without a job.
 
With the end of the enhanced unemployment benefits, if you are still furloughed, you may be considering short-term or part-time work. Research your state’s unemployment benefit requirements to determine how this work may affect your benefits.

​We’ve all heard that the best way to find a job is through networking. While this is true, some of us just don’t seem to have that social-butterfly gene.
 
Here are some simple ways to let the world know that you’re ready, willing, and able to help their company.

Create a profile on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn is like the professional’s version of Facebook. Use the tools to create a profile and contact others who you already know on there. You never know who is connected to your friends and colleagues!

Create a Meetup  profile.
Find Meetup gatherings in your area that pertain to your interests and objectives. You will meet amazing local people. When you sign up at a few Meetup groups, you will run into some of the same people at different gatherings. It's very easy to make new connections this way. Do this effectively and consistently a few weeks in a row. Watch opportunities knock at your door.

Set a Facebook profile.
Don’t use your personal profile if you already have one. Set up a profile specifically for your professional career. Post your resume and befriend everyone that looks like they might be able to help.

Get on Nextdoor.
Nextdoor is one of the fastest growing social platforms. You will be surprised at how many doors it can open. People seem to have welcomed and embraced Nextdoor into their daily lives faster than expected. Get active! Connect with your neighbors. People love to help.

Get a Twitter account.
Follow everyone in your field. Follow everyone you can in the geographic location you wish to work. Tweet away.

​Always carry business cards.
You never know when you’re going to meet someone that might have the ability to help in your job search.

Blog about your profession.
You’ll attract people in the same field and also demonstrate your expertise.

Follow blogs in the same industry.
Subscribe to the blog and leave comments. Ask if you can write some content for them. It’s another way to get your name and experience out in the public eye.

Let all your friends know.
You might think you don’t know that many people. But if you think about all the people your friends know as well, you’ll see the numbers climb rapidly. Tell everyone what you’re looking for; you might be surprised who can help.

Let everyone know.
Your neighbors, members of any clubs to which you belong, your mail carrier, the bus driver, and more could all be helpful. Don’t be bashful.

Have your elevator pitch ready.
You should be able to fire off your elevator pitch in 30 seconds who you are, what you do, and what problems you can solve.

Get a professional email address.
Super.surfer1970@xxxxxx.com doesn’t sound very professional. John.Smith@xxxxxx.com sounds better.

Finding a new job is about as much fun as getting a root canal. The best solution is to use as many tools at your disposal to find a job as quickly as possible.
 
There is someone out there looking for someone exactly like you; you just have to find them. Use the ideas above and be creative; these are just the tip of the iceberg. Good Luck!

​