NEWSLETTER
Last Updated 27 April 2009
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CAREER BYTE - AUTUMN 2009
Welcome to Career Portfolio’s newsletter from Merilyn especially to newcomers. It’s been a busy time since we were last in touch and being involved in several media interviews has been exciting;
The most recent involvement is a series of job search hints on Light FM’s morning program to assist those riding the wave of work uncertainty and unemployment;
Job Search Campaign
Applying for a position can be likened to a job campaign. By ensuring the foundational work is done you will; - highlight your strengths - target your communications - network effectively and interview with confidence. Investing time in preparation and being targeted, not just busy will enable success.
Five job search keys enable success;
- Market your strengths and transferable abilities,
- Activate Your Network – personal and professional,
- Perfectly Presented – resume and covering letter,
- Interview Preparation – research and Q. & A. preparation,
- Evaluate, evaluate, evaluate –performance, interest, development.
A quick test, circle your ability to unlock each key (1=expert, 2=fair, 3=struggling).
Marketing ME - Job Campaign Workshop can assist in unlocking the five keys. Half day public workshops Melbourne May: Fri. 8th or Sat 9th, June: Fri. 12th or Sat 13th. Early bird cost: $125-00, details and registration on the home page.
Career Life Transition
Writing The Age 'My Career' column (4/10/08) was another exciting media involvement. While retirees were the focus similar principles apply to any career life transition, hence I am including highlights; The best way to prepare (for a career life transition) is with a purposeful life plan, realigning the key elements of time, money and talents in a way that offers a fulfilling future focus. That way you know you’ll be living by choice, not by chance.
Before or during the transition to this next stage of your life, reassess and refocus who you are and what you have to offer. You can do this by looking at your talents, strengths, values and vision. Years of being focused on a particular job or role, for example, can mean transferable abilities are blurred, so objectively assess what you can and can’t do, and which of your skills shine.
You might want to move to part-time or voluntary work, or set up your own business.
This is also the time to reassess and integrate changing relations and family dynamics and needs, your ideal work/activity involvements, and lifestyle hopes such as travel and wellbeing. (www.careerportfolio.com.au > Boomers for Life has the full article).
Empowering Women Leaders
Four hundred women gathered for 2008’s Serious Women’s Business conference which I had the privilege of attending in October.
Two key themes emerged from the impressive and diverse speakers who included politicians, law, accounting and manufacturing leaders;
- Self Awareness
Quentin Bryce, the Governor General in opening the conference highlighted self awareness and a women’s unique urge to get to the centre of things. Other speakers urged women to;
- hold true to the things that matter i.e. family and friends, - be confident, - understanding of self is the key to leadership. - Resilience
A panel of prominent women leaders shared their stories of major career setbacks i.e. business closures, unjust terminations, disloyalty and product research being stolen. In doing so what emerged was that they had survived by drawing upon their own self belief, the support of family and friends and that whilst it had been hard they recognised that they were building on these lessons of experience.
CAREER PORTFOLIO UPDATES
Since we have last in touch, several developments;
MY Resume - is a step by step on line D.I.Y. program designed for students or those whose resume or covering letter skills are rusty, also included are job search and interviewing hints. It’s a reasonable $47-00, is adaptable for groups and has its own website www.createaresume.com.au
Self help tools Career Portfolio's website has also been updated and in particular in the Individual Consulting section you will find two downloadable self help tools to further enhance your career life journey;
- S.W.O.T. form to conduct your own strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats review;
- Engagement template – emphasising the importance of identifying tasks and activities that engage, enabling ones future direction to be more fulfilling and productive.
I look forward to receiving your thoughts or any queries, with thanks Merilyn
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CAREER BYTE ARCHIVE
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USAGE OF MATERIALS
You are welcome to use this or other materials as free articles provided the following acknowledgement is included:
Merilyn Hill
www.careerportfolio.com.au