As a professional career counselor for over 19 years, I have helped all types of people make transitions in their personal and professional lives. I motivate them climb to the top of life so they can enjoy the view.Last month, I attempted to climb Mt. Rainier in the Cascade Mountains as chronicled in the Albany Times Union on Thursday, May 28th. On Summit Day at 4am, I plummeted unexpectedly down a huge crevasse and was t...

I have a lot of clients that are at a crossroads and need help with direction. After I conduct an intake of their situation, I learn that most have several ideas of where they would like to go, but are just not sure where to turn. I call this “Career Roundabout Syndrome.” Where I live in Albany, NY, these traffic circles are popping up everywhere, and for some they are difficult to navigate. There are some distinct meta...

When most clients come to me, they have hit a crossroad in their career development. They are hungering for concrete guidance and direction. They simply don’t know where to turn next.It’s a well kept secret that successful career development is a sequential three step process of self-assessment, career exploration and then action plan. Action plan can take the form of either:1) doing a job search2) going back to school3)...

The Importance of Interviewing:The purpose of the resume and cover letter is to get you an interview. After the interview you either get a job offer or you don’t. Unfortunately, most people spend lots of time preparing their resume and cover letter and much less time preparing for the interview. The interview is the most neglected and most important part of the career development process. You can look great on paper, bu...

Networking 101A network is a group of allies who serve as resources for your personal and professional life. Networking is the lost art of relationship building. It is a learned skill that can be developed by anyone with practice and patience. It is the best way to grow a business or conduct job search. It should be approached as a fun learning experience that will only help you grow and advance.We all network and don...

That’s my #1 technique for job searching. Of all the many ways of finding work including the Internet, classified ads, temping, career fairs, the best way to find a job is to buy as many people as possible coffee or breakfast, lunch and dinner. Let me explain.If you are looking for a new position, you might be inclined first to go to the Internet and search for a job. But since most jobs are never posted, you should spend 8...

Self-assessment is the building block and foundation of career development. If you carefully “pour a strong foundation,” you will be able to construct a vibrant and satisfying work life. It is the first step in the process of finding the right job and career. Finding the career that is your best match is dependent on the intersection of four key traits unique to you: 1) Skills, 2) Values, 3) Interests and 4) What’s the next...

The interview is the most neglected and yet most important part of the job search. Behavioral-based interviewing is a style of interviewing that more and more companies and organizations are using in their hiring process. The basic premise behind behavioral-based interviewing is this: The most accurate predictor of future performance is past performance in a similar situation. It provides a more objective set of facts to...

After the first two stages of career development: 1) Self-Assessment (Who am I?), and 2) Career Exploration (Where am I going?), an individual will be more carefully prepared to take on the final stage: The Job Search (How do I get there?). Getting started can be the hardest part, but investing your time will be worth the results.A well thought out job search strategy can help you achieve your career goals. Research stud...

Why Write A Thank You Letter? You have put together the resume, the cover letter and gone through the interview - congratulations! Don't stop now - there is at least one more step before you are through. The thank you letter can not be neglected in today's competitive market. You need an edge over the other candidates and you can increase your chance of being hired by writing them - by marketing yourself to them one mo...