Steps to a new job

​Finding a new job can be a rewarding journey! Here are some steps to help you get started:

1. Self-Assessment: Reflect on your skills, interests, and career goals. Identify what kind of job you want and what industries or roles align with your strengths.
2. Update Your Resume and LinkedIn Profile: Make sure your resume is up-to-date and tailored to the types of jobs you're applying for. Your LinkedIn profile should also reflect your latest experiences and skills.
3. Research: Look for companies and roles that interest you. Use job boards, company websites, and professional networks to find job openings.
4. Networking: Connect with professionals in your field. Attend industry events, join professional groups, and reach out to contacts who might know of job opportunities.
5. Apply: Submit applications to the jobs that match your skills and interests. Customize your cover letter and resume for each application to highlight your relevant experience.
6. Prepare for Interviews: Practice common interview questions and prepare your answers. Research the company and role to show your enthusiasm and fit during the interview.
7. Follow Up: After interviews, send a thank-you email to express your appreciation and reiterate your interest in the position.
8. Evaluate Offers: If you receive job offers, consider the salary, benefits, company culture, and growth opportunities before making a decision.
9. Continuous Learning: Keep improving your skills and knowledge to stay competitive in the job market.

Is there a specific step you'd like more details on?

Career Advisor - Mentor

 Career Mentor is someone who uses their experience to help you grow your career. They can help you:

• Make good choices in your career
• Overcome challenges
• Identify strengths and weaknesses
• Set goals
• Develop action plans to achieve those goals
• Reflect on what you're good at and the kind of work you enjoy
• Make a plan to get more of the things you enjoy into your working life
• Give you the confidence to make changes
• Help keep you on track
• Develop new skills in your career
• Provide insight into specific professional situations, negotiation tactics, opportunities, and career path goals

To find a career mentor, you can: 

• Read their profiles and websites carefully for their preferences
• Start with a polite and formal email to introduce yourself
• Share a bit about what you admire about the person, details about where you are in your career, and some perspective on why this person would be a good mentor for you
• After you've corresponded a few times, ask if they have time for an informational interview

The average cost of a career coach is between $75 and $150 per hour. 

A career mentor can offer a variety of services to help you navigate your professional journey. Here are some key services they typically provide:

1. Career Planning: Helping you set short-term and long-term career goals and create a roadmap to achieve them.
2. Resume and Cover Letter Review: Providing feedback and suggestions to improve your resume and cover letter.
3. Interview Preparation: Offering tips, mock interviews, and strategies to help you perform well in job interviews.
4. Networking Advice: Guiding you on how to build and maintain professional relationships and expand your network.
5. Skill Development: Identifying areas for improvement and recommending resources or training to enhance your skills.
6. Job Search Strategies: Assisting you in finding job opportunities and advising on effective job search techniques.
7. Career Transition Support: Helping you navigate changes in your career, such as switching industries or roles.
8. Work-Life Balance: Offering advice on managing your time and maintaining a healthy balance between work and personal life.

Is there a specific area you're looking for help with?
Ask Professor John
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​Career Coach ​Career coaches can help you improve your job-searching skills, write a cover letter, and practice interviewing. They can also help you identify the competencies your prospective role requires and offer advice on how to succeed in your current job.
​Career coaches can help you with many things, including: 

• Improving your job-searching skills
• Writing cover letters
• Reviewing your resume
• Practicing interviewing skills
• Identifying the competencies required for a prospective role
• Gaining necessary hands-on training
• Exploring opportunities for professional growth
• Supporting you through the ups and downs of looking for a new job

Coach

• Coaches
  Help people build self-confidence to master new abilities or enhance current ones. Coaches are experts at a particular skill and generally receive special training to guide people in any field towards achieving their goals. Coaching is structured and self-directed. Coaches ask powerful, provoking questions to enable a person to come up with their own solutions.
• Mentors
  Work more as an adviser than a coach.

Coaching and mentoring can be combined into the same learning programs. ​Mentors​A mentor is a trusted counselor or guide who provides support, advice, and guidance. Mentors typically take the time to get to know you and the challenges you're facing. They use their understanding and personal experience to help you improve. 

Mentors are often found in work or school settings. They can influence the personal and professional growth of a mentee.
When looking for a mentor, you can:

• Look for people who understand your role and industry
• Keep things casual when reaching out to someone
• Find someone who's respectful and will give you tough love when you need it
• Find someone who knows how to deliver feedback in a way that's constructive, kind, and direct

When choosing a mentee, mentors should: 

• Choose mentees carefully
• Trade away hours they could use to pursue their own career goals and spend them on someone else's
• Be aware that having the wrong mentee can be painful

Creating a job assessment involves considering the individual's skills, experience, and career goals. Here's a general outline for a job assessment tailored for a 54-year-old woman:
Job Assessment Outline
1. Personal Information

• Name:
• Age:
  
• Contact Information:
• Current Employment Status:

2. Career Goals

• Short-term goals:
• Long-term goals:
• Desired job roles:
• Preferred industries:

3. Work Experience

• List of previous job titles and companies:
• Key responsibilities and achievements:
• Duration of each role:

4. Skills Assessment

• Technical skills (e.g., software proficiency, technical certifications):
• Soft skills (e.g., communication, leadership, problem-solving):
• Transferable skills (e.g., project management, customer service):

5. Education and Training

• Highest level of education:
• Relevant certifications or training programs:
• Ongoing education or professional development:

6. Strengths and Weaknesses

• Key strengths:
• Areas for improvement:

7. Interests and Hobbies

• Professional interests:
• Personal hobbies:

8. Work Preferences

• Preferred work environment (e.g., remote, in-office, hybrid):
• Desired work schedule (e.g., full-time, part-time, flexible hours):
• Salary expectations:

9. Health and Well-being

• Any health considerations that may affect job performance:
• Work-life balance preferences:

10. References

• List of professional references:
• Contact information for references:

This outline can be customized based on the individual's unique background and aspirations. Would you like to dive deeper into any specific section or need help with something else?

​Here are some free sites that can help you determine the best type of job for you:

1. CareerExplorer: This site offers a comprehensive career test that uses advanced machine learning and psychometrics to match you with careers based on your interests, goals, history, workplace preferences, and personality[1].
   
2. Truity: Truity's Career Personality Profiler test measures your personality traits, strengths, values, and interests to match you with ideal careers. It uses the Holland Code and Big Five models for career planning[2].
   
3. 123test: This site provides a quick career aptitude test that includes a bundle of six complementary career assessment and personality tests to determine what fits you best[3].
   

These tests can give you valuable insights into your strengths and preferences, helping you find a career path that suits you. Have you tried any career assessments before?

References
[1] The World's Most Powerful Career Test - CareerExplorer
[2] Career Aptitude Test | Free Quiz to Find the Right Career for Me - Truity
[3] Career test - Fast Free Career Aptitude Test - 123test.com