How did it happen already? My second daughter just graduated college and I have very mixed emotions. Mainly, we’re very proud of her accomplishment, but I’m also wondering where the years went! As college graduation season wraps up soon, it seems natural to talk about career coaching - why hiring a career coach can be the difference between getting the job and NOT even getting an interview.

Let me ask you a couple questions: Would you wire your own home for electricity? Build your own car? Do you cut your own hair? (no “hair” jokes for Kevin now!) Most would say “no.” If it is important, and we want it done right, we hire an expert.

The same principle should apply when job seeking. Your career is one of your most crucial financial investments. If you are actively engaged in a search, underemployed or unhappily employed, it makes sense to consult an expert as you launch your search for a new job.

Most people don’t welcome the idea of a job hunt. It is hard work and may seem overwhelming. Wouldn’t it be nice to have an experienced ally who will help you every step of the way?

As a nationally Credentialed Career Manager, Coach Kevin Tucker has been partnering with individuals like you for the last 25 years. Through the military, as a minister, a human resources executive, and finally as a career and life transition coach; he has continually been able to help motivated individuals find their calling in life! Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

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As you are having a conversation / interview with your new employer, you need to connect you need to share stories and situations that they can relate to - remember they are the one hiring you!

As I was preparing that post, I ran across an article by Meridith Levinson, “Job Seekers: How to Tell Stories to Stand Out” that says it well:

Sensory details provide an essential element of good story-telling, says Hansen, because they help draw in audiences. Just as descriptions of a house’s smell or a character’s clothes make a story more believable, details about a job seeker’s professional experience will make their stories more credible and enticing to hiring managers.

“In a job seeking story, numerical details-numbers, percentages-are really important,” says Hansen. Key details to include in résumés and cover letters and in your answers to interview questions are the size of the IT budget you oversaw, the number of people you managed, size and scope of projects, and percents and dollars of revenue generated or costs cut.

Though detail is helpful, job seekers want to make sure they emphasize the particulars that are important to their audience-the hiring manager. They don’t want to waste precious interview time describing what their employer’s office looks like or the taste of the coffee in the break room.

The Two-Minute Rule

All this talk about recounting stories shouldn’t make job seekers think they need to transform simple, straightforward anecdotes about their professional experiences into epic tales. Rambling responses to interview questions bore hiring managers.

Consequently, Hansen says job seekers’ responses to interview questions shouldn’t run longer than two minutes. She recommends that you draft your stories on paper, rehearse them out loud with friends or family who can provide feedback, and revise them as necessary until you can hit all necessary points in two minutes or less.

Delivery

Even well-structured stories can fall flat if they’re not delivered with emotion. This is particularly true for challenge-action-result formats, admits Hansen, so job seekers should speak about their work with enthusiasm. A job seeker’s passion for his or her metier is infectious and demonstrates another quality that hiring managers find irresistible in prospective employees-confidence.

Well, thanks to Meridith for these thoughts. However it is presented-in conversation or the resume, connecting with the person interviewing you is the key!

As a Nationally Credentialed Career and Life Transition Coach, I help people like yourself get more out of life through their career! Is coaching for you? Learn how career and life coaching can help you personally, can help your company, and can help your church. Check out more at www.CCubedCareer.com.

With everything going on, how are you holding up? Would it help to “re-charge”? Is your job search on “fire”?

As a personal coach, let me make a suggestion. Physically (and mentally) remove yourself-and the results will be amazing! Maybe it’s stepping outside, maybe a trip, something from a different perspective!

Personally, I did just this. I’m writing this from the mountains. I just walked out of a cabin. It’s early morning-even a few stars are still out. My reaction is “wow”! The beauty. The peace. The start of a new day!

My batteries are charged! I’m ready to take on the world! How about you? What are you ready to take on? Your job search?

At C-Cubed, we have many tools that may help; it’s up to you! C-Cubed serves clients by faithfully applying our God-given talents to make life-changing improvements in the lives and career paths of each person we coach. What does this really mean? With my experience of connecting with people, like yourself, I’m able to help each and every person discover what they need to be doing for true success and joy!

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To discover your true purpose in life-not your job or your goals-you’ll just need 20 minutes, according to personal growth experts.

To find your purpose, here’s an exercise to do: Get a pen and piece of paper or sit down at your computer and write or type the question: “What is my purpose in life?” Then write whatever pops into your head. Repeat this process-keep writing answers-until you hit one that raises your emotion. You may come up with many random thoughts-but write them all down. One could lead to just what you’re looking for!

Why is your purpose-your life purpose-important? For starters, it affects all areas of your life-relational, spiritual, and social. And let’s not forget about the career! If our actions are in alignment with our talents, gifts and abilities-the results will be great!

Our Purpose: C-Cubed serves clients by faithfully applying our God-given talents to make life-changing improvements in the lives and career paths of each person we coach. What does this really mean? With my experience of connecting with people (like yourself) I’m able to help each and every person discover what they need to be doing for true success and joy!

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Now, there is a bit of a presumption that there is something! Ok, some folks may need dig deeper than others, here! But like many situations in life, I’m a firm believer that there is always something – something great, that one can apply to the next opportunity!

As I was at the 2008 Leadership Forum and Networking Event this past Friday, there was no shortage for companies that provided jobs to love! This event was pulled together by a great team of folks at BestCompaniesAZ, led by Denise Gredler. To top things off, this event was highlighted by Derrick Hall, the president of the Diamondbacks. Talk about a person passionate for what he is doing! Wow!

Building off of our question, “What do You Love About Your Job?”, this is your launching point in looking at your position. As small or as big as it may be, what “enjoyment factor” can you take with you? This “joy” needs to be the cornerstone of your job search!

As a career and life coach, I see so many folks just going out there and searching what they perceive as the open jobs – the few that are posted. But the big piece missing here is the “what” – what are you looking for? What do you enjoy? What are your passions, abilities, and even hobbies? This is like a road map, you’ve got to have it, if you want the results – a career of your dreams!

Do this little test: keep a log for a week and just jot down what gets you going – what are you passionate about? Let me know how it goes! By hitting the “comment” button below, you can drop me line directly.

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Well, in my last post I talked about having passion for what you do in life, and I was able to this Anyone out there want to be passionate about the work they do? Tommorrow, I will be offering tips and answering your questions

ARIZONA Anyone out there want to be passionate about the work they do? Tomorrow, I will be offering tips and answering your questions on “Career Straight Talk”. I will be sharing on “Helping motivated individuals find their calling in life”.

For many people, answering this question results in a complete blank. Now, on a regular basis, I have individuals approach me - it doesn’t matter their age, but they’ve just been going through life – without living their passion. In a recent article, Forbes magazine stated that 87% of the population is not a match for the work they are doing.

But for others, the answer is pure joy. I’ve seen many people living a satisfying and challenging career – how? They are capitalizing on their personal and professional God-given strengths and talents.

Be sure to tune in tomorrow, Wednesday, March 26th, 9-10 AM, on KFNX 1100 AM, or for that manner, call in with your questions!

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Well, in my last post I talked about having passion for what you do in life, and I was able to this yesterday on the weekly radio program ìCareer Straight Talkî. For those of you that called in … and the many more that listened… I hope youíll be able to apply some nugget of the program to your career!

No doubt the focus was passion, and it is for all I do - how about you? As we focus on the job search, this is key! But most folks donít get it, job seekers and employers alike. But the great news is, once someone does get it, they have set themselves, or their organization apart, and above the rest!

Let me also step out and put this out there. You need to be communicating that passion even as early as the “pre-interview” stage. By doing so will yield you very positive results. 

Long gone are the days of hiring of the “quota system” - some of you can remember back in then. Where because of someoneís color or heritage, they were hired into a position. I can tell you as a former hiring manager, I was looking for the most qualified person for the job - based on their natural talents and gifts they brought to the table. I was not going after a particular group, but looking for the best person overall.

Take this thought to your search. In your interaction with your next potential employer, are they able to “see and hear” that you are the best person for the job? Have you given them solid reasons why they should do so? Remember itís up to you to make that connection!

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We spend most of our waking hours with our career - likely more than in any other area of our lives. Are you passionate in what you do?

In a resent article, I was recently asked about my first job - here was my reply - “My first job was working at an amusement park in Southern California (I’ll let you guess which one). I operated the world’s highest, fastest and scariest wooden racing roller coaster - well, at the time! I sent unsuspecting victims off for the ride of their life (and a serious case of white knuckle exhilaration). In a warped way, this established my life work of helping others find passion in their lives.”

I was, and 30 years later still am, passionate about helping people through career issues. It could be someone just starting out to a person in transition - it’s my life work.

I would challenge you to find your “life work”. What would make you spring up in the morning? What would you want others to remember you for?

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For many people, answering this question results in a complete blank. Now, on a regular basis, I have individuals approach me - it doesn’t matter their age, but they’ve just been going through life – without living their passion. In a recent article, Forbes magazine stated that 87% of the population is not a match for the work they are doing.

But for others, the answer is pure joy. I’ve seen many people living a satisfying and challenging career – how? They are capitalizing on their personal and professional God-given strengths and talents.

I just got through going to a concert with a very accomplished musician, John Tesh. I first heard him 12 years ago at Red Rocks amphitheater in Colorado, and then tonight, here in Chandler, Arizona. One thing is for sure, he has found his passion in life! Some of you may know him as a successful musician, a former host of Entertainment Tonight, or even from his radio talk show Intelligence for Life. It was amazing to hear how he left a seven figure a year income to follow his passion!

What is your life passion? What is the work of your life? Do you want that joy? That peace? That feeling you are just where you should be? I would challenge you to find your “life work”. What would make you spring up in the morning? What would you want others to remember you for?

My challenge for you this week is to take the time to find out. Go to a “mountain top”, your favorite coffee shop, a drive to nowhere – whatever it is, take some time and think it through. Your outcome of this exercise will affect the rest of your life – I’d love to hear of your experience!

Technorati Tags: assessments, career assessment, career coach, career coaching, career consulting, Coaching, cover letter, disc assessment, interview tips, kevin tucker, keywords, life coach, life coaching, negotiating, outplacement services, Passion and Job Satisfaction, resume, resume writing, transition coach, video interview