Career Coach

I love meeting new people, even if it makes me a little nervous. But one set of words that I hear at mixers and networking events makes me really want to run for the hills. You may have uttered these words. And I want to share some alternatives with you, so that you'll make more connections, rather than having people dash off. Last night, I attended a fun networking event in Berkeley, full of people who are on LinkedIn. The event was hosted by Ilene Koehler, who set us up in speed-dating fashion, to mix and mingle for five minutes per "couple," and then move on.

Ah, we all have beginnings. My introduction to the world of career coaching was as a career advisor to the MBA program at UC Berkeley. A typical day there consisted of seeing between 8 and 16 students for 30 to 60 minutes, to help them prepare for interviews. The students would come in to a teeny cubbyhole of an office, barely big enough for the two of us and a desk, without windows. Not the most cheery place to be, but not at all unlike some of the venues where interviews take place.

I've thought of myself as too amateur to be a professional, and too professional to be an amateur. I have only an AA degree, but years and years of professional work experience. I've been a SAHM for three years now and want to get back in to Something! I've done a lot of volunteering at the schools and am very organized and a good coordinator and researcher. I'm afraid however that I have a lack of confidence and a fear of committment! Any advice?

The Resolution Make-Over

Just when we feel ready to plop on the couch and
recuperate from the holiday celebrations, the pressure
is on to whip our personal and professional lives back
into shape – what timing!  No wonder people who choose
to set New Year’s resolutions on January 1 often lose
the momentum before we even get to Groundhog’s day!
Who has the energy to accomplish such lofty goals?

So, why the hype over resolutions?  Aren’t we just
setting ourselves up for failure?

Let’s face it: if you’re working and raising a family, you probably have very little time to pamper yourself with any of the various mentoring programs and coaching clubs available to working mothers. You know that the skills and lessons you would learn in coaching would benefit you and your family’s lives greatly if you could just figure out how to fit it into an already over-flowing schedule!

The importance of a well-placed, heartfelt, and genuine Thank You note seems to be lost among my generation (post-1985, Gen C, Z, or is it Gen Web?). Amidst job interviews, graduations, the endless multitude of 21st birthdays, and weekend trips to visit the parental unit or other family home - which often include free laundry and a complementary steak dinner - I must say...a facebook wallpost, a MySpace message, and/or a text message do not cut it!