CAREER
ESSENTIALS
An e-mail newsletter designed
to transform the way you think about your career…
and to help you face Mondays with a smile!
by Dale Kurow, M.S., Career & Executive Coach
Contents |
Welcome
|
The
Top Ten Tips for Jumpstarting Your Career in 2004 |
| Announcements
|
|
|
Please
feel free to forward this newsletter. Your support is greatly
appreciated!
Contact
Dale R. Kurow
dale@dalekurow.com
212/787-6097 |
|
"If
you done it,
it ain’t braggin’!"
Will
Rogers
(1879-1935) |
|
Welcome
Dear
Readers,
I’m
back! And delighted to be with you again. It is frigid here in New York
City. I’m listening to Mozart as I write this and the sun is shining.
I feel warm and grateful to be inside!
I’ve
been taking time off to write, revise and upgrade my web site and to redesign
my newsletter. As you can see, Career Essentials has a new look and feel.
My revamped newsletter was designed by my talented designer, David Moorhead.
Thank you David!
I
welcome your feedback -- feel free to send me an e-mail with your thoughts
and/or interest in newsletter topics.
In
addition to working on my newsletter, I’ve updated my networking
tips e-book. You can find out more about my new
e-book by clicking here.
Finally,
I’m in the process of creating a program that will help managers
take their leadership skills to the next level. More about the program
in a special announcement.
This
issue is devoted to: The Top Ten Tips To Jumpstart Your Career
in 2004.
Hope
you find them helpful! Sending you warmth and hot chocolate.
To
Your Success,
Dale |
| 1.
Who’s on your list?
When
was the last time you added a new person to your network? If you can’t
remember, it’s been too long. At a minimum, make a list of your
current network and plan to contact them (via an email, personal note,
call or coffee date) at least twice a year.
2.
Going up?
Rehearse
your elevator speech for use at networking functions. Your goal is to
have people ask you “tell me more.” Read my article on preparing
an elevator speech by clicking
here.
3.
Dream big
Take
time to write down your career goals. Do you want to change jobs, make
more money, do work that you love? All of that is possible if you plan,
commit to it and persevere.
4.
Know your value
Do
you know how to price yourself in the marketplace? Salaries vary according
to location, years of experience, etc. Check out Salary.com
or befriend knowledgeable recruiters who have their finger on the pulse
of your market.
5. What’s your story?
Prepare
3 WES’s (work experience stories) which highlight your accomplishments.
A WES = a challenge when you began the project, the action you took to
solve the problem and the outcome, quantified if possible. An added plus,
work experience stories can be used for cover letters or on an interview.
|
6. Get Professional
Join
a professional organization and actually go to a meeting!
Hint:
if you join the membership committee, you will get to know the members
even faster and can find out which companies are hiring.
7.
Whip your resume into shape.
Update
your resume with your latest job, skill level and title. This exercise
will provide you with a fresh list of accomplishments and prepare you
for an interview. Use verbs that zing. Built, drove, piloted, launched.
Stay away from expressions such as: my responsibilities included. Boring!
8.
Mirror, mirror
What
do people notice first about your appearance after your face and smile?
Accessories. This translates to shoes, handbag and jewelry for woman and
shirt, tie, shoes and briefcase for men. Spend the extra money on those
items, rather than on a Prada suit.
9.
Got the Vision?
Find
out what your boss’s vision is for 2004. How can you contribute
to its success? Write down your ideas, review it with an impartial colleague
and talk to your boss.
10.
Plan (& take!) a vacation
Surprised?
One of the best ways to get new ideas and a renewed sense of direction
in your career is to step away from it. It’s amazing how clear the
perspective becomes when you put distance between you and the 9 to 5. |
| Want
to network successfully every time? Be prepared for every stage of the
networking process: learn what to do before, during and after you go.
Surefire Networking Tips E-Book now available.
Click
here for more details
I
also offer an exploratory half-hour of coaching with no obligation. I
can be reached at 212/787-6097 or dale@dalekurow.com |
I’m
currently offering one-on-one coaching to:
-
Create a game plan for changing careers
- Select
the best career options to pursue
- Develop
the skills to deal with a difficult boss
- Deal
with office politics
- Build
your personal foundation and get the support you need to make changes
- Help
you move forward after being laid off
|
