Four things to take to a job interview

Four things to take to a job interview by Amber Rolfe Outfit? Check. Answers? Check. Checklist? Check… OK, so you may have all of the above covered, but figuring out what to bring with you on the day of your interview can often be left until the last minute. But having the right things can be a great way to demonstrate your dedication to employers, so it’s vital to get yourself organised in advance.We’ve already covered how to prepare for an interview, but here are four things you should always take with you on the big day:  Copies of your CVFirstly, make sure you print out your CV.Although some interviewers will bring a copy with them, having your own to hand out on request will show you’re prepared (and provide them with the information they need if they forgot to bring one).Aim to bring enough copies to accommodate for each interviewer, by checking how many people are going to be there in advance.That way, each person will have your details to hand throughout your interview â€" whether it’s to refresh themselves on your skills and experience, inspire potential questions, or simply reinforce what you’re saying.Not only is it helpful for the recruiter, having your CV nearby could also remind you of any key dates, numbers, or percentages if you draw a blank.How to write a CVFree CV templateNotebook and pensBringing your own notebook and pen is a great way to show an employer that you’ve thought ahead.After all, there are a variety of things that might need to be noted throughout your interview â€" whether it’s important names, phone numbers, or even key details about the role.Taking the time and effort to jot these details down will demonstrate that not only are you invested in the job (and you’re paying attention), you’re also going to refer back to it when the interview’s over â€" whether it’s to follow up or simply review how it went.What’s more, having these items to hand can often improve your body language â€" by keeping excessive gesticulation, crossed arms, or hand-to-face-touching at bay.Just make sure you always bring a back-up. No one is going to be impressed if you run out of ink on the first word.Body language: Dos and don’tsInterview body language: What not to doExamples of your workFact: employers love candidates who can prove their skills with real examples.And what’s the best way to do that? Aside from backing up your abilities on your CV, you can also bring examples of your work into an interview.Of course, this won’t work for every industry, but could be an essential requirement for those looking for work in the media, digital, or creative fields in particular.Possible examples could include anything from your university dissertation, essays, or any other form of written prose (whether it’s a blog post, article, or story), to design, fashion, or architecture portfolios.And if you’re looking to break into an industry with little work experience, providing examples of how you’ve gained the required skills and abili ties outside of work can be a great way to stand out.How to start a blogWhat are transferable skills?       QuestionsOK, so you’ve prepared your answers, but what about your questions?Every interviewer will give you the opportunity to ask questions at the end of an interview, and the worst thing you can do is say nothing. So in case you draw a blank when the time comes, it’s vital to prepare a few in advance.Sure, you might come up with a few throughout the interview (cue: pen and notepad), but relying on that alone is risky â€" especially if your interviewer is particularly thorough.And isn’t just a great way to gain more information on anything you may be unsure of. Asking questions also shows you cared enough about the role to prepare â€" and if you ask the right ones, are the right fit for the company.Go in with nothing, and you’re likely to end your interview on an awkward silence…To find out what you should be asking, read our list of job interview questions you sho uld ask employers. Five questions you should never ask at an interviewPre-interview checklistHonourable mentions: an umbrella, directions, a bottle of water, written references, a smile/positive attitude (and various other clichés).  Still searching for your perfect position? View all available jobs nowFind a job What Where Search JobsSign up for more Career AdviceSign up for moreCareer Advice Please enter a valid email addressmessage hereBy clicking Submit you agree to the terms and conditions applicable to our service and acknowledge that your personal data will be used in accordance with our privacy policy and you will receive emails and communications about jobs and career related topics. Preparing for an interview

Do You Need to Follow This Rule About Resume Writing Job Less Than Six Months on the Job?

Do You Need to Follow This Rule About Resume Writing Job Less Than Six Months on the Job?This rule about resume writing job less than six months on the job is to help keep you from wasting time on materials that are too long and not really designed for the job. I often see resumes and cover letters longer than six months.If your resume or letter says 'here are several job roles that I am interested in' then ask yourself if these are roles that are of interest to the company. If they are, then you should consider moving them up into the six-month range.This rule about resume writing job less than six months on the job applies to both the employer and the employee. The employer doesn't want to look as though they are looking for someone who has been on the job less than six months, because this makes the employer appear unprofessional and it does not sound like they are interested in hiring the best person for the job.On the other hand, the employee may be asking, 'why is it so hard to get a hold of my resume?' If you start to have trouble getting your resume into the system, it is because it is too long. If you are looking at your resume and it is more than six months old, then you will find it very difficult to gain employment.One reason that resume material may be too long is that they have been laid out and the companies don't remember all of the information and simply put everything back into the resume. Another reason may be that there is just not enough information for the employer to take the time to read through all of the information, which makes it feel like the employer is 'wasting' time and throwing away the job offer.This rule about resume writing job less than six months on the job also holds true for cover letters. There may be more information to provide in the cover letter than what is in the resume, so the employer may need to have more information than what is in the resume before they are ready to move forward with a hiring decision.The third rule about resume writing job less than six months on the job applies to how an employer reads a resume. Often, the employer will read the resume first and then move on to the cover letter if the cover letter is lengthy.It may be necessary to make the resume longer before the cover letter can be added, but, by adding the cover letter after the resume, it gives the impression that you are considering the offer. That is why it is important to get a feel for whether or not a position requires a shorter or longer resume.

What Is the Best Hair Product I Should Use for Hair Texture and Shine

What Is the Best Hair Product I Should Use for Hair Texture and Shine Do you admire or yearn for shiny, silky and gorgeous hair? Are you bored by your dull, weak and dry hair? If yes then there is a lot to learn on how to improve the texture and shine of any type of hair. Your hair will also not go well with winter weather. Cold temperatures are associated with dry air and lots of wind that can destroy or affect the appearance and health of your hair. Professionals and hairstylists know how important it is to keep ones hair in tip-top condition. To maintain quality texture and shiny hair, you need to be armed with the best hair products. It is not only all about being able to use these hair products but also understanding various devices that help maintain your hair in good shape. For instance, you have to know how to clean clippers and other hair maintenance devices. Hair Texture and Shine To be able to figure out what products best suits your hair, you need to find out more about the texture of your hair. The texture of any hair is determined by looking at the thickness of your hair. You have to look at the condition of your hair cuticle as well as your hair strand. There are three main hair textures that you should be aware of. Whether your hair is straight, curly or wavy type, it can either be of medium, thin or fine and thick textures.  Your skin is not the only part of your body that can glow. You can also have shiny hair if you use the right products and maintain your hair in the best condition. There are shiny hair secrets that you should keep in mind all the time. More so, to get a maximum shine, you need to wash and condition your hair regularly. Don’t forget to rinse your hair with cold water for a few minutes and this is after you have used the best products. The Best Hair Products You Can Use Lucky you if you can figure out ways to improve the texture and shine of your hair. Here are the major hair products that you can embrace and have the look you have been yearning for. Have a look; Texturizer If you are looking for a product that will effectively add texture and shine to your hair, a texturizer or salt spray is all you need.  This is a great product if you have fine and slightly wavy hair and looking forward to building all-over volume and get a more relaxed look. It is easy to use a texturizer. All you need is to do a few quick sprays and then blow dry your hair. Make sure the container is six to 10 inches from your scalp then spray onto wet or dry hair strand and then blow-dry. It might take up to 15 seconds to see the impact of the product. Shine drops If you are looking for a hair product to cover the cuticle and create shine, shine drops are what you should go for. It’s great if you have medium to thick hair that lacks gloss. It is easy to use shine drops. Simply, apply a small size drop to dry or wet hair. If you have curly locks, add a few drops to soaked wet hair and control frizz. Hair spray If you are looking for the best product to freeze your hairstyle in place, hair spray is all you need.  Hair spray contains alcohol so it evaporates quickly. Spray it onto your hair but make sure you are holding the container 10 inches away from your scalp. Straightening serum or balm If you have curls that need a new texture and an improved sheen, you need to opt for straightening serum or balm. Hair serum or balm is great if you are looking for a means to blow-dry waves or curls straight. If you have a thick hair, use more serum to give your hair the shine you need but make sure the hair is not greasy. Coconut oil Coconut oil comes with good properties to aid moisturize the scalp and help enhance the texture of your hair.  All you need is to massage coconut oil into your scalp and let the oil set in for one hour and then wash it away with a mild shampoo. Make sure you don’t forget to apply your best hair conditioner. Use Eggs Presence of protein in eggs offers properties that can aid improve the texture of your hair and also makes the hair shine and soft. You can apply eggs directly or mix them with some hair packs. Take Home Message Everyone wants hair that shines with light. It does not matter what texture your hair is, all you need is to follow and abide by the shiny and healthy hair secrets. There is also a lot of professional beauty advice that you can hold onto and improve the condition of your hair. Find the best hair products for your head and boost your confidence and personality today. There is more than enough for you, just invest wisely.

A Day In The Life Of A Drama Student

A Day In The Life Of A Drama Student Drama students are seen as creative types who swan around quoting Shakespeare and read sonnets.   But is this all there is to it? Image by Augusta State PR Its not just coffee and soliloquies People have so many preconceptions when they hear the word student.   Worse still, when I tell people I study Drama, I can see their eyes glaze over as they imagine me quoting Shakespeare and lazing around in treetops.   Well Im sorry to disappoint, guys, but theres more to it than that.   My fellow Drama students are some of the hardest working people I have ever met.   A few examples for you The early bird catches the worm Well, the early actor hasnt been rehearsing. I will admit, we do rise pretty late, but thats far from being lazy; we just happen to have been up until 3am learning lines and researching the political and economic context of August Strindberg (or something else equally brain-aching and obscure), as well as making sure our characters are well-rounded and justified in all of their actions. This is on the nights were not watching, reading or performing in a play in some hazy fringe venue that is really just a dark cellar underneath a pub. When we do rise, like all other students, we have our lectures, seminars and workshops â€" though our problems do vary slightly from all other disciplines. Some of my housemates study History, and are constantly frustrated at being the only ones who contribute to seminar discussions. On the contrary, the biggest issue for us Drama students is actually getting a word in.   Want to make a point?   Youre going to have to be prepared to talk over, interrupt and shout down the other twenty people in the room to make yourself heard. [ALSO READ:  A Day In The Life Of A French And German Student] And it doesnt end when uni does Class is over for the day, brilliant â€" off for a latte and a poetry reading in a little artsy cafe. If only!   Just because class is finished, that doesnt mean we are. Most days continue in a rehearsal room working on some performance for the next class, or perhaps running lines for the play youve decided to put on because, well, you want to. Most of my course-mates are regularly rehearsing for more than one show at a time, splitting their evenings between the various companies they work with. All for free. After all of this, which takes up most of the day, we might catch a show. Maybe one that a friend is in, or a company weve worked for are putting on. But more likely well be off to a minimum-wage job that is fairly irrelevant to our life plan. Why? How else do you think we fund our visits to the theatre and trips to London? Spare time Whats that? Weve gone to class, had a rehearsal, done a shift at work and managed to get home before midnight. I guess that means its time to do some self-publicity â€" upload some art to a blog (almost every student on my course has either Tumblr or WordPress), plug our latest show, write a review of the play we just caught, maybe bash out an article. Freelance workers, even aspiring freelancers, can never stop self-promoting if they hope to make it. Easy option? So perhaps the next time you meet a student who studies a creative subject youll smile to yourself. Not because theyve taken the easy option, but because you know at least once youve finished work you can head home and do nothing at all. The more competitive the job market, the harder the individual must work to succeed in it. There are few careers harder to crack into than creative ones. Perhaps you could offer some encouragement, express an interest and check out their blog/Twitter feed/online presence. Trust me; nothing will make them happier than that one more hit or follow. Can you relate to this? Is your degree subject laced with contempt and met with derision? Share your stories below.

Leadership Qualities When Writing a Resume

Leadership Qualities When Writing a ResumeWhen writing a resume, there are some important leadership qualities that you should remember. In fact, it is vital to consider them before you begin the process of writing a resume. While it is certainly nice to have good grades, a good resume is important to get you the job you want. The more you know about how to write a resume, the more likely you will be to get a great job.If you already have experience and qualifications, you should not stress yourself out when writing a resume. Employers are not impressed with somebody who has been in a job for a very long time because they feel they know that person. They are not interested in reading about what they can do, only what they can't do. When you have already been employed for a period of time, you have gained experience, which makes you more qualified. A resume is just an extension of this that you should take into account.Leadership qualities are also very important when you are writing a resume. You need to understand that your experience in a job will dictate how good a candidate you will be. Your resume should reflect your skill level and be professional at all times. When you use the right terminology, the employer will find it easy to tell what you know and what you don't. When you hire someone, you want to know that they know the job.It is also important to stay up-to-date on current information. You should use current publications and resources to learn about new technologies and improvements in industry standards. This knowledge will help you to remain ahead of the game when you are writing a resume.On the other hand, you can go over your skills with your employer by remembering all of the information they will need about you. Remember that you can learn and improve all of the things that you know. After all, there is always more to learn and the more you know, the better you will be in your field.Your resume should be designed to get you the job that you w ant. You will not have to wait forever to be able to do something important. If you make a resume that is short, yet powerful, you will have more luck when you apply for a job.It is not easy to write a resume, but when you know how to do so, you will be more likely to be successful in this process. Make sure that you take the time to write a resume that is professional and that is based on leadership qualities. This will certainly help you get a job that you want.The key to your success when writing a resume that focuses on leadership qualities is your ability to write clearly. Write about the specific skills that you possess. Take the time to think about the type of job that you would like to get.

How To Avoid The Fate Of Uber Drivers

How To Avoid The Fate Of Uber Drivers What just happened to Uber drivers could just as easily happen to you… unless you take steps to guard against it. Last week, Uber announced that it is experimenting with driverless cars in Pittsburgh this month. To quote Uber Man, “This is big. It’s scary stuff… bad news if you’re an Uber driver”. And for better or worse, what happens in Pittsburgh won’t stay in Pittsburgh. Undoubtedly, this kind of disruption to jobs and career opportunities will happen to more of us going forward. According to a study by the Oxford Martin School, 47% of US jobs could be susceptible to computerization over the next two decades.   And by 2025, robots could replace between 40mm to 75mm jobs worldwide according to McKinsey Global Institute. And with the pace of technological change speeding up, the disruption to the world of work will also get faster. Future-proofing your career Since we know the world won’t stand still, what matters is to start thinking ahead about how to “future-proof” your career. It’s the only way to prevent yourself from becoming a casualty of what the rest of the world experiences as “progress”. A good starting point is to recognize that there’s risk out there in career land. Technological change, regulatory change, and the speed of change are all on the rise.   And that’s just for starters. In just the last decade or two, we’ve seen whole business sectors downsize or disappear such as record stores and travel agencies, and others growing or springing up as in the case of big data analytics and elder care. Similarly, many had thought that driverless cars would be a good 20 years away, but here we are with Uber experimenting with a precursor version this month. So start looking ahead and thinking about it while you have the luxury of time and a paycheck. It’s your responsibility You can’t count on anyone else to do this for you. Other people may have vested interests in keeping you doing what you’re doing, whether that’s well-meaning friends and family who want you to have that secure job and not take risks, or your employer who needs you to perform your role and not create problems. And remember that sometimes, the “do nothing” strategy is the most risky. So it’s up to you to look at your job and figure out where you have risk, ways to de-risk your career, and how you can put yourself in control. Rather than allowing you to unwittingly become a dinosaur when you’ve got more to give, you can develop ways to win no matter what the future of work looks like. Seven ways to future-proof your career 1. Assess where your role stands When you start looking ahead, one important thing to look at is your function or your role. Is it something that could be done differently in a more technologically advanced future world? To get at that, you could think about the answer to this question: If you were hired to put you and your team out of a job, how would you do that? How would the tasks get done? What would be a better way to do it? Then, find out whether someone is already doing this. That will give you a better sense of the potential pace of disruption. For example, in the legal profession, the routine parts of the job (like document culling and document review) are already being outsourced. And one could imagine that in the not-too-distant future, these tasks probably will be done by artificial intelligence. So it’s a question of figuring out whether you are mired in doing the routine parts versus the creative, high value added portions, and developing your expertise in the latter as fast as you can. 2. Assess where your organization stands This can be thought of at two levels: the sector level and the company level. Are you in a sector that is likely to be disrupted next? Who and what could eat your lunch and how long before it happens? What alternatives are out there for satisfying the same need that your sector is satisfying? And what would be an entirely different way of looking at the sector? For example, that’s the difference between looking at healthcare as taking care of sick people versus keeping people well for as long as possible. Then, within the sector, are you working at an organization that is likely to be one of the winners in the changed future? Just think about Eastman Kodak, which went from being top dog to bankruptcy, while rival Fuji Photo was able to diversify out of camera film successfully. 3. Don’t get pigeonholed Look at how specialized your skills are and ask yourself whether that makes you more valuable, or more at risk of upcoming shifts in the environment. Sometimes, being in a specialized niche is the winning strategy, which clearly depends on what that niche is. Other times it can limit your options if you’ve only ever done one thing. Figure out which is true for you. Either way, make sure you give yourself enough breadth of capability to avoid getting pigeonholed such that people can only imagine you in one role. 4. Focus on tomorrow’s skills Identify and develop skills that will become key or at least increasingly relevant. It’s the equivalent of ice hockey star Wayne Gretzky’s explanation of his success, “I skate to where the puck is going.” If you focus on training up only for the skills needed today, you may be outdated before you’ve become an expert. According to Lynda Gratton, London Business School professor and author of The Shift, you must “think hard about the skill areas that are likely to be important in the future â€" for example sustainability, health and wellness, and design and social media are all likely to be areas where work will be created over the next decade. Also remember that jobs that involve working closely with people (chef, hairdresser, coach, physiotherapist) are unlikely to move to another country.” (Source) 5. Develop timeless assets Although you’ll need and want to have specific skills, it’s also important to make sure you step back and develop them into their more universal and transferrable versions. That way, you have flexibility to move to other areas and morph into other applications of those skills. For example, the specific skill of selling bonds could become a more timeless asset if you became known as someone who can persuade and influence clients at the highest levels. Or you may be skilled at making a particular kind of product â€" say, buggy whips. But when buggy whips become obsolete, you’re out of a job unless you’ve also developed the ability to create efficient production processes, of which the buggy whip is one example. What that entails is thinking more strategically about your specific skill, and then zooming out and looking at it as a more broadly applicable model or framework or turning it into a strategic capability that you can transfer to other situations. That’s what I mean by “timeless asset” â€" a capability that won’t go out of fashion and that is therefore timeless as an asset you can put to work elsewhere. 6. Broaden your connections Another way to future-proof your career is by building connections and relationships with people who can put you in touch with new ways of thinking and doing things. Resist the urge to spend time with just those people who keep you happily in your comfort zone. Get used to doing that before the future changes things for you and forces you to get out there when you’re not prepared. 7. Stay away from the same old same old If you are doing the same thing in the same way in the same field for a long enough time, you put yourself at greater risk of getting derailed by changes in the future. To future-proof your career requires that you take a dynamic approach rather than a static one, adopt a growth mindset rather than the status quo, and most importantly, keep evolving and transforming yourself rather than rely on what’s worked in the past. What will you do? It’s one of life’s ironies (and perhaps a technological inevitability) that Uber drivers, who put a big dent in the livelihood or taxi drivers, are now facing the same risk of obsolescence from driverless cars. And now, it’s over to you. How will you future-proof your career? Leave a comment and let me know.

How To Choose The Ideal Career Coach For You 8 Questions To Ask - Kathy Caprino

How To Choose The Ideal Career Coach For You 8 Questions To Ask Part of Kathy Caprinos series Building a Powerful Support Community This month, I heard from a corporate executive (let’s call her “Linda”) who shared her story about a career coach she hired last year. The long and the short of it is that it didn’t end well, and she’s now wary of coaches as a whole. I don’t blame her at all. This coach turned out to be of zero help to Linda, and in fact, set her back several steps, demoralizing her and leaving her more confused than before. Sadly, I’ve heard this type of story countless times in the past 13 years in my work a career and executive coach. This coach had Linda take a battery of expensive tests, and the results showed that she was in an ideal job for her interests and skills. The problem was, she’s deeply unhappy in this career of 30 years, and she wants to leave it for a variety of well-founded reasons.  The coach also told her that due to her age (she’s in later midlife), she’ll have a very hard time reinventing and finding a new job and suggested not doing it. Wow, thanks a lot for the motivation and inspiration, sir! While it’s certainly true that reinventing in midlife has its deep challenges (I know this from experience as I transformed in midlife from corporate exec to marriage and family therapist to career coach, writer and speaker), it is doable if you engage in the process with your eyes wide open and with the right steps, strategies and support, integrating all your new learning as you go. I had a similar experience back in 2000 with a career coach I hired.  I had built a corporate marketing career for 18 years and experienced a good deal of outer success. But as I approached age 40, I experienced some serious crises and challenges (which I now know are common among thousands of professional women) that brought me to my knees, including chronic illness, sexual harassment, gender discrimination, toxic bosses, zero work-life balance, unethical management, and more. What was even more painful was the feeling that what I did for a living offered no positive, contributive value to the world. It was totally lacking in meaning and purpose for me, and as I turned 40, that began to feel like a situation I could no longer live with. I had been in these types of high-level marketing roles for a long time, and I had such a longing to change my career and do different work that helped people and offered more personal fulfillment. I dreamed of a new direction, but simply couldn’t figure out what to do on my own, without losing everything that I’d worked so hard to achieve. After hundreds of dollars’ worth of meetings with this coach, and a series of expensive assessment tests, he shared, “Well, looks like your current job is a great match for you and meets all your key needs.”  I was so angry and demoralized at his response and at the wasted time and money. If it met all my needs, why am I so desperately unhappy in this work? Why am I “breaking down” from the stress, exhaustion, crushing competition, and lack of connection to my work? The reason he concluded that my career was right for me came from his limited perspective and limited ability as a coach. He just didn’t understand that you can hate work that seems to fit your skills, and he didn’t know how to help me brainstorm, flesh out and test viable new directions. He wasn’t skilled in helping me leverage what I was good at and also apply that to a new direction that would be more fulfilling for me. I did eventually transform my career and move into the helping profession (thanks to a pivotal conversation I had with my therapist after a brutal layoff in the days following 9/11). But what I needed was a real breakthrough â€" a “paradigm shift” that would allow me to recognize the true value of my skills and experiences and embrace new opportunities and directions that would be a great fit. How did the coaching process go wrong, then?   The career coach and assessment tests I took identified my professional needs and talents but the key thing he missed was that while my current work was indeed tapping into various talents and skills I possessed, I was pointed in the wrong direction.  The outcomes that my career focused on felt wrong and “off” to me â€" not positive or helpful to the world. And this coach missed the single most important aspect of what I wanted in my working life  â€" to feel good, right and proud about work I was doing that could benefit others. This coach also missed exploring other vital dimensions to a joyful and successful life and career, including: Your standards of integrity â€" what you will and will not compromise on Your life intentions what you want to create and achieve by the end of your life Your life purpose the unique purpose you’d like to fulfill in your life and why you’re on this planet at this time Your natural skills and talents â€" those talents and skills that have been with you since your early years that are a deep joy to use The outcomes you want to work toward â€" the projects, initiatives and results that make you proud to be engaged in The type of people you want to work with and the culture you’re immersed in â€" people whom you admire and respect, and who align with your core values and your definition of positive and helpful The timing of your life right now and what’s a fit with your other top priorities Your financial, geographic and other needs and desires Career coaches who don’t touch on the above aspects of building a fulfilling career aren’t going to be successful for you. They disregard the most important dimensions of professional life. But, as Einstein pointed out, we cannot solve a problem on the level of consciousness that created it. We often do need outside help to shift our understanding of ourselves and to see more clearly what we have to offer and what matters most to us. If you are interested in receiving outside help from a career coach to build a happier professional life, below are 8 questions to answer that will help you vet this coach and make sure he or she can help you shift what needs to change and propel you forward to your ultimate visions and goals: #1: Do they feel great to talk to? Talk to the prospective coach for 15 minutes to gauge your chemistry and your fit. Share your situation and get their feedback. Then check in with yourself about how you feel right after the call. Do you feel energized and hopeful, and perhaps a bit “scared?” I’ve found it’s a good sign if my prospective clients feel really excited and inspired by the discussion, but also a bit scared. This typically means that youre inspired to grow, ready to commit to the process, but part of you is scared because you know there will some stretching involved. Feeling a bit scared often signifies that the coach will facilitate your moving beyond your comfort zone (which is essential if you truly want growth). #2: Do they understand deeply what’s required to transform your career? I believe that when you want to change careers, it’s best to find a coach who’s done what you want to do in the world.  Dont buy into that myth that the coach doesnt have to know a thing about what youre trying to do. Thats false. For instance, if you want to make significantly more money in your new business, dont go to a life coach â€" go to a coach who possesses deep entrepreneurial experience, has lived what youre trying to do, and has had great success in helping others do it. If you want to transform your career, find a great, experienced career coach whos also reinvented their own career successfully and has helped hundreds of others do the same. Select a coach who truly understands from a personal perspective the living realities of what you’re trying to accomplish. #3: Are they offering powerful thought leadership and a proven model for change? Review their articles, blogs, videos, assessments, webinars, etc.  What does their body of work reveal about them? Do you love their website, their LinkedIn profile, their articles, their guest posts, their interviews and media work, and other components of their thought leadership? After watching their videos and reading their material, do you feel like you simply cant wait to work with them? #:4 What’s their energy? Get a sense of their energy. Every person on this planet, and every helper that you work with, has their own style, approach, worldview, mindset and energy underlying their work. Make sure their energy and approach is a strong fit with your style and energy. #5: Is their training strong? To be in the helping profession and be highly effective at catalyzing change and helping people become more resourceful and resilient in the process, these helpers need to be highly trained and seasoned in their work. Becoming an effective change agent for others requires much more than just a few months of taking an online class or studying a textbook. It takes years of hands-on training, and deep internal and external work. #6: Do their former clients say great things about them and do those comments speak to you? Check out what the coaches’ former clients say about working with this individual. Make sure that what they’re saying speaks to you at a deep level and instills confidence in you that this is the right fit for what you need. #7: Do they know how to work with the deeper aspects of your life, personality and emotions that are influencing your career success? Ive found that what holds the vast majority of professionals and executives back from greater success, happiness and reward are actually not professional issues at all. They are personal ones. After all, youre a person when you show up to your profession. So often, its our mindset, beliefs, fears, trauma from the past, childhood pain, lack of confidence and self-esteem and other deeper aspects of our human experience that are preventing us from finding joy and success in our work, or asserting the necessary boundaries and communicating in ways that will protect us from pain and mistreatment. Does this coach understand how to deal with the deeper level of whats going on in your career? 8: Did they help you in the first 15 minutes? Finally, in your introductory call, did they offer you great help right there in the first 15 minutes? Do they seem to “see” and get you clearly and understand what you’re experiencing, and echo back that understanding? Is what they’ve shared helpful to you right in the first call? If not, pass. * * * * * Getting outside help from a trained coach can be a positive and transformative experience, if you’ve selected the right helper. Don’t shy away from getting the support you need. Just be very selective about who you put your faith and trust in, as you deserve to be supported at the very highest level to achieve the career and professional success and reward you long for. For expert hands-on career, executive and leadership development coaching, visit Kathy’s Career Breakthrough programs, her Amazing Career Project course, and her Amazing Career Coach Training program, and tune into her Finding Brave podcast.