News Flash! There has been a very effective, very economical, and proven solution to help baby boomers successfully transition into their encore career for the past 15 years. Baby boomers can hire their own career coach who will virtually guarantee that they will pick the best encore career for them that they will enjoy and thrive in. And the switch will be much more fun and smoother than without a career coach.

From Benefitspro.com

Baby boomers struggle with encore career transition

By Amanda McGrory

 

According to new research from Civic Ventures, 31 million people ages 44 to 70 want encore careers combining personal meaning, continued income and social impact, but they have trouble making the financial transition.

Among the 9 million people who are already employed in encore careers, two in three report facing reduced or no income during the transition.

“There's a big payoff from encore careers, for individuals and for our entire society,” says Marc Freedman, founder and CEO of Civic Ventures. “But making the switch is hard. Employers, policymakers and all of us in our own lives need to think creatively about how to make the investments in encore transitions that lead to these new, more fulfilling careers.”

The research also suggests that 9 million people ages 44 to 70 who are already in encore careers first thought about these positions at age 50 and took approximately 18 months to transition. To prepare for their encore careers, 23 percent of respondents participated in local volunteer programs while 20 percent of respondents enrolled in education or training courses. Another 13 percent of respondents volunteered at their local places of worship.

Although they are interested in encore careers, 40 percent of respondents say they are not in the financial position to change careers in this economy. Twenty-nine percent of respondents say they do not know which type of career to pursue, and 16 percent of respondents say they do not have the time to explore a new career.

For those interested in encore careers, 44 percent of respondents say there is a need for transitional support through grants and scholarships for training and education, and 40 percent of respondents say volunteer programs are necessary. Hands-on experience through community service programs is also a need, according to 36 percent of respondents, while additional education through community colleges or other schools is considered necessary by 34 percent of respondents.

Sixty-seven percent of respondents already in encore careers report facing gaps in their personal income during the transition, and 24 percent of respondents say they earned no money. Another 43 percent of respondents say they earned much less during the transition than they earned at their previous jobs. Among those respondents who had little to no income, 79 percent say they experienced a gap of six months or more. Thirty-six percent of respondents say their income gap occurred for more than two years and 65 percent of respondents say they used only their personal savings as income.

Interview your career coach before committing

Found this article at the Salt Lake Tribune. I agree that coaching works best when you are matched with the career coach who is best suited (ideal) for you. Career coaching is a very personal process and not just any coach will do for you. You want to engage a qualified coach whom you personally connect with extremely well.

Interview your career coach before committing

Published Mar 15 2012 www.sltrib.com by Anita Bruzzese

You may decide to hire a career coach if you’re stuck in your job search or feel that your career needs a new direction.

But several months after meeting with your coach, you’re not one step closer to a job.
Now, you’re out hundreds of dollars in coaching fees and are ready to spit nails because you’re so frustrated with the coach’s advice.

What went wrong?

First, you might not have done your homework or might have chosen a career coach with little experience or past success. Or, perhaps you saw the coach as a personal assistant who would find a job for you and all you would be required to do is show up and sign the employment papers.

Missteps like that can lead to frustration for the career coach and the client.
Jane Trnka, career coach for the master’s of business administration programs at Rollins College in Winter Park, Fla., says many people have misconceptions about what a career coach can and cannot do.

"Overall, a career coach is somebody who guides you and provides tools and resources to help you with your career, whether you’re just starting out or are currently employed," she says. "What they don’t do is let you remove all accountability to find a job for you."

Career coaches often take a bashing if things don’t go well, she says. With a little Dr. Phil thrown in, they encourage, commiserate and counsel clients who are going through a myriad of emotions as they search for a job or navigate career changes, she says.

"You have to be pretty thick-skinned to be a career coach," she says. "You can get blamed by someone who says, ‘You didn’t do anything for me,’ and you have to turn that around and say, ‘Well, you didn’t do anything for yourself.’ "

That brings up a key point. You’re going to be responsible for much of the heavy lifting. That means career coaches will give you homework that includes tapping into your network and developing new contacts, exploring your strengths and weaknesses and working on a résumé.

"Researching a job is a job in itself," Trnka says. "The coach’s job is keeping you on the right path and making sure you don’t take something willy-nilly. "

A career coach may meet with you for several days in a row in the beginning, and then twice a week as your task list grows. The coach also may continue to counsel you even after you get a job to make sure you keep up your network, update your résumé and help out anyone else who needs it, Trnka says.

So, how do you make sure you choose a career coach who is a good match for you? Trnka offers some advice:

Ask for recommendations » Choose a career coach after talking to others who have successfully used the coach.

Interview the coach » Before meeting for the first time, check out the coach’s LinkedIn profile but also be prepared to ask the coach to talk about his or her qualifications and background in person, Trnka says.

Request specifics » "Ask the coach what are the tools and resources that will be used in your career strategy plan," Trnka says. "Ask for the coach’s perspective on career searches."

Know the expectations » Many clients flinch when they learn they may spend hours on an assignment from a career coach. Ask about the work you will do and about how long it will take, so you have a clear idea of the time and energy commitment.

Get a reality check » Even though the economy is improving and employers are beginning to hire, Trnka says that companies are being very picky about new employees, looking for someone who closely aligns with their requirements.

"Ask the coach about what opportunities are available for you based on the current economy and what obstacles you may encounter," she says.

Finally, don’t be afraid to state in any contract that it can be terminated if you find the coach isn’t a good fit and expectations aren’t being met, Trnka says. "You should be able to break it off if it isn’t a mutual value."

Job Stability isn’t What it Used to Be

The secret to getting hired is to know the work positions you are ideally suited to perform before you go job hunting.  The fastest, least costly and most complete way for people to discover their “ideal income positions” is to engage a career coach

Job Stability isn’t What it Used to Be

March 14, 2012 By J.T. & Dale

10 Key Steps to a Successful Job Search

“JT & Dale Talk Jobs” is the largest nationally syndicated career advice column in the country and can be found at JTandDale.com.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I worked for a company for 20 years before getting laid off. Recently I was contacted by a recruiter, and she asked, “Why did you stay in the same job for so long?” I was completely thrown off. Isn’t it obvious? It was a well-paying job with great benefits. That’s what I told her, and I haven’t heard from her since. What was I supposed to say? – Robert

DALE: First, there are dozens of reasons not to hear from a recruiter, most having nothing to do with you or your work history: The company decided not to fill the job, or filled it internally, on and on. But let’s assume for a minute your answer was a deal-breaker.

J.T.: There are different versions of the truth, and the one you gave wasn’t what the recruiter was looking for. She wanted to hear that in those 20 years, you were paying attention to your career and the need to develop it. Otherwise, she would assume that you spent those 20 years just plugging along, keeping your job. In this competitive job market, there isn’t a single employer that will hire someone like that. Next time, talk about your career progression and the expertise you gained, and how that made you more valuable over time.

DALE: As Shakespeare put it, “the past is prologue.” You need a story that makes sense of your career path, what it was and will be. Speaking of paths, when I go hiking and lose sight of the trail, I’ve learned to stop, turn around and observe the route Ijust traveled; often, doing so makes sense of where the path has been and how it logically carries forward.

The same should be true of your career. Look back and make sense not just of where it’s been, but of where it’s going. Career stability is no longer revered; change is. Consider this: Say you meet someone who mentions that he has lived in the same house for 20 years. Does that make him seem dynamic? Is he going to embrace change? We’ve reached the point where you need to have as good a reason for staying in one job as you do for job-hopping.

Creating a Road Map to a Successful Career

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A career coach is incredibly skilled at helping clients recognize their interior values and beliefs to identify their ideal income positions.  They serve as a qualified sounding board to “hear” yourself often for the first time

Creating a Road Map to a Successful Career

March 13, 2012 By Shell Mendelson

I just heard from a client I worked with about a year ago.

Amy graduated from college in Meteorology and worked for a weather department with the state in a job that had nothing to do with her passion. She quickly realized that the “perks” of this job were her golden handcuffs, and she was fairly miserable.

She was not exactly loving the idea of getting up and spending the day with people she did not relate to, or a boss who had no clue how to manage people. She just knew she didn’t want to end up like some of the older employees who watched the clock and counted the days before “retirement.”

Amy came to career counseling determined to change her direction, but since she was young, she was still tied to what other people thought was the “best” thing for her to do in her career. She completed her road map with great enthusiasm.

She knew without a doubt she wanted to work in a field that allowed her to use what she learned in her college major meteorology, and that her biggest passion was to be involved in some way with… hurricanes.

I can’t relate to this, but passion is passion.

Amy determined that in order to really get deeply involved in the work she wanted to do, she would likely have to complete a Master of Science program. There happened to be one in Florida that offered a $25K stipend.

She was excited and relieved (as is the case with everyone who completes this work) to know without a doubt what direction she wanted to take.

So, the vision was complete. All she had to do was take the next step.

But… not so fast. What do you suppose happened? Amy let “the birds get her” (one of Jim Rohn’s wonderful phrases for allowing dream stealers to take the reins).

In this case, it was the fear of losing her parents favor or of damaging her relationship with them because she left a job that was seemingly secure, no matter what the cost to her happiness.

Clearly, she was not yet willing to move forward with the plan to fulfill her dreams. This is where good mental health counseling can come into play.

Fast forward to a few months ago, Amy was offered a job in Washington DC that encompassed every element of what made up her ideal job  – took the leap of faith and made the move, although she still considered it a gamble. She stated that she learned more about meteorology in one month than she did in two years of her work with the state. Her new company even has an office on the campus where she will eventually earn her Master of Science degree! She is also enjoying life in DC and meeting great people.

Here’s the key – Amy had the vision.

She held on even with doubts and fear. She did the work and knew what she wanted to do down to the last detail. It may have taken her a bit more time to overcome her old limiting beliefs, but now she is on the road to living her dream and doing what she loves.

The lessons:

1. When you have your road map, you can now see in your mind’s eye where you want to go and envision the end result. If thoughts become things, you are half way there.
2. Always keep your eye on the prize and look for opportunities that may help get you there – an organization, a professional(s) with connections, work opportunities that may encompass a portion of your goal and help get you there.
3. Be aware of excuses to not move forward. Get committed and take action – one small step at a time. Remember, folks with ADD or who are prone to distractions can get easily overwhelmed
4. Get the help and support you need to create your road map!

Peyton Manning's Lessons In Career Strategy

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This is the perfect time for Peyton to consider engaging his own career coach. His coach will open up worlds within him that he never knew was there because he never looked.

 

Peyton Manning's Lessons In Career Strategy

BY Expert Blogger Mark McNeilly 

This blog is written by a member of our expert blogging community and expresses that expert's views alone.

This week, the Indianapolis Colts released four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning to look for work with another NFL team. As removed as your job or company may feel from the NFL, there are four key career-strategy takeaways for all professionals (even the ones who don't wear shoulder pads).

This week, in a much-talked about move, the Indianapolis Colts released their future Hall-of-Fame, four-time MVP quarterback Peyton Manning to go look for work with another NFL team. Moving quickly to avoid paying Manning a $28 million bonus due this week, the Colts owner Jim Irsay is now looking to the future and drafting a top college QB (most likely Andrew Luck from Stanford) to lead his team.

While one might think regular folks in the business world have little in common with NFL superstars, there are four things we can take away from Manning's situation.

1) Understand that everyone is replaceable: When Peyton Manning joined the Colts in the late 1990s, they were a middling team. With Manning's leadership and skills they became perennial Super Bowl contenders, as Manning set record after record and blew opponents away. No one worked harder than Manning or gave more to the team than he did. Unfortunately, he suffered a neck injury and had to undergo surgery last year. Without him, the Colts finished 2-14, a signal to how important Manning was to the team. Yet the Colt's leadership, looking at Manning's injury and age and no doubt, the looming bonus, decided to let him go so they could move forward with a new quarterback.

What's the lesson for us? If someone with Peyton Manning's impact, leadership, and work ethic can be let go, anyone is replaceable. Which leads us to the next three points.

2) Be prepared. Despite all the talk over the past season that this move might occur, it appears Manning was genuinely surprised and unprepared when it actually happened. When asked at his "exit interview" about what team he wanted to play for now he said, "I have no idea who wants me, what team wants me, how this process works, I don’t know if it’s like college recruiting where you go take visits. I mean, this is all so new to me."

The takeaway for each of us is that we always need to be ready if the ax falls. Each of us needs to be constantly upgrading our skills and learning new ones. Our LinkedIn contact list needs to be full and expanded weekly. Our resumes must be up-to-date. Don't be caught by surprise.

3) Realize you and your company are two different entities. Manning was so identifiable with the Colts that, on the Colts Facebook page, he was the profile picture. In his mind--unsurprisingly given his performance--he likely believed he'd be the Colts quarterback until the day he retired. Although he said, "We all know that nothing lasts forever. Times change, circumstances change, and that’s the reality of playing in the NFL," that was his logical side speaking. Emotionally, it seemed clear that this move by the Colts hurt deeply.

This same thing can be true for us. When we work for a company for a long time, we can begin to do the same thing, assuming our identity is inseparable from working for that firm. But given how quickly one can move from being the company's MVP to Mr./Ms. Disposable, making who you work for part of your identity is dangerous. It's much better to keep a healthy separation in your mind between who you are and who you work for.

4) Stay classy. While it would be hard to blame Manning if he were bitter, his statement about his release was the epitome of grace. "This town and this team mean so much to me. It truly has been an honor to play in Indianapolis. I do love it here. I love the fans. I'll always enjoy having played for such a great team. I will leave the Colts with nothing but good thoughts and gratitude to Jim, the organization, my teammates, the media, and especially the fans."

If the ax should fall on us, we should also follow Ron Burgundy's advice and Peyton Manning's example and stay classy. How we act in difficult times shows our true measure. Acting gracefully puts us on a higher plane and helps us move away from an unfortunate event to a brighter future. 

In sum, should you find yourself on unstable ground at work, make sure to keep in mind these four takeaways. None of us may be Peyton Manning but we can all learn from how he has handled himself during what must be an extremely tough transition.

Get Ready! The Layoffs Continue.

Using a career coach should be step 7 to help you accomplish your goals.  Boost your odds of being hired into your best matched job to over 95%.

Get Ready! The Layoffs Continue.

by Debra Wheatman

According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employers carried out 1,434 mass layoff actions in January 2012 that affected 129,920 employees.  This number is slightly up from December 2011. If your company is the next to lay off employees, are you ready?  It reminds me of way we prepare for potential natural disasters.  Even though a low percentage of people that are affected, most prepare when they know that something is going to happen.  Do you think a layoff could be as devastating as a hurricane?  It can be for hundreds of thousands of people, but it does not have to be if you are prepared.   Let’s get ready!

1.)  Reduce your expenses, decrease debt, and increase your savings.  If you have not done so already, start an emergency savings fund.  Personal finance experts, such as Suze Orman, recommend a savings fund of eight months of livings costs to be properly prepared.

2.)  Increase your positive visibility within your company to safeguard against unemployment. Many times the strongest contributors will survive a downsizing.  Keep performing at your best and be sure your contributions are noticed.  It’s not just the big sales, sometimes it is the little things. I found some practical tips on Todd Smith’s (author of Little Things Matter) website.

3.) Start a brag file.  Take a few seconds out of your busy day to jot notes of your career successes.  Include measured results when you can.  Later when you are preparing your resume, these details may be difficult to remember.

4.) Keep your resume current.  Work with a professional or conduct research so your resume meets the standards for a 2012 job search.  It’s a competitive market and a “B” resume won’t get the interview.

5.) Network, network, and network.  Need I say more?   The top way to get a job is still through networking, both online and in the real world.

6.) Get social.  Social media is increasingly important. Social media continues to transform the way candidates and employers source and connect with each other.  If you are not using social media, particularly LinkedIn and Twitter, get on board.  If you are active on any forms of social media, make sure it is aligned with the brand you wish to project.

In the event that you do get the proverbial pink slip, you will be six steps ahead of the others.  That’s not enough.  You will need to hit the ground running.  I had a savvy client call me from his cell phone in the company lobby.  He was unemployed less than an hour and he had already started to work on his job search campaign.  Needless to say, I got a call from him 42 days later that he landed a new job with a 5% increase over his former salary.  It’s no accident.  His preparation and diligence paid off.