Since announcing my Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club I've received many, many questions. I've answered some of them individually, but since I have received the same questions repeatedly, I finally decided to put together this Q&A sheet. Here it is. If I missed one of your questions, please let me know!
Q. What exactly is job search coaching and how will it benefit
me in my job search?
A. Coaching--coaching on any issue--involves a
series of questions, observation, feedback, and other techniques to help you
explore the issues you want to resolve, clarify, and understand. Unlike
counseling, coaching sessions are very results-oriented and very much guided by
your agenda. The ultimate goal of job search coaching is to have you achieve or
even exceed your job search and career goals-whatever those goals may be.
However, job search coaching is somewhat unique in that it often requires a
blend of coaching and consulting. It is important to understand that as your
coach I will NOT give you answers. As an expert on job search issues, there may
be times that I step back into an advisory/consulting role to give you guidance
on job searching best practices. When the situation calls for that, I will not
hesitate to take on that role. But, for the most part I will facilitate and
coach you through the process of discovering your own solutions and answers and
strategies.
There
is a real difference between activity that is just busy-work and action steps
that are focused on producing RESULTS that will move you closer to your goal.
This is a distinction that I will emphasize throughout our work together. As
your coach, each week I will coach you in setting action steps correlated with
the goals you have set for yourself. Between sessions you will need to work on
these action steps and as your coach I will hold you responsible and accountable
to these commitments. In that way, we move you forward and closer to your goals
every week!
Q. Is there more to the group than just the weekly coaching
calls?
A. Yes. The calls are just a part of the overall
big-picture of your 12 weeks of coaching. Besides the calls, you will receive by
email two weekly coaching check-in forms that are designed to help you stay in
close contact with me--your coach, set realistic goals, and then hold you
accountable to those goals. One of these forms will be sent to you shortly
BEFORE each coaching call and the second one will be sent to you AFTER each
coaching call.
Even if you choose not to attend the weekly calls, I really encourage you to
take full advantage of these check-in forms as you will reap real benefits from
taking just a few minutes to check in with me each week, documenting your goals,
successes, and questions. Just a few of the most significant benefits include
breaking through the natural tendency that many of us have for procrastination
while staying focused on your long-term objectives with actions that will
produce tangible results and continuous progress toward achieving your job
search goals.
The check-in forms also give you the opportunity to ask questions of me as your
coach and to provide me feedback about what I can do to better support you and
to be a more effective coach for you.
Q. What are the coaching calls like?
A. Our weekly group coaching calls are designed to
facilitate interaction and participation. Part of what makes the group format so
powerful is your ability to interact with, get support from, and learn from your
peers. I try to encourage this interaction and have intentionally kept the
weekly meetings very informal, without a set-in-advance agenda.
When we have multiple participants on a call, I will do my best to give everyone
who wants a chance to speak an opportunity to do so during the hour, and to
receive some focused laser coaching on whatever job search issues they bring to
the table. If you have supportive comments, feedback, or suggestions for another
member, I would encourage you to jump in and speak up. But, if you'd rather just
listen in and learn from the questions others bring, that's okay too. Nobody
will force your participation.
Q. What job search issues will we cover in the group?
A. For the most part, we do not have a set agenda
for the weekly calls. I've done this intentionally-so that I can be sure we
focus on the issues that are most important to you. This means that each week we
are prioritizing all of our time to address whatever issues, questions, and
challenges are most pressing for the people on the call that week. During any
given call we may focus on a variety of job search issues-topics such as
networking, interviewing, job search tactics, goal-setting, long-term career
planning, just to name a few. Or, if there is consensus among the group on a
given call, we may focus solely on one issue. I try to remain flexible and
adjust to the needs of the members. Whatever your questions and challenges are,
bring them to the group. You can read a long list of suggested topics that you
might bring up at
http://www.distinctiveweb.com/careercoaching.htm
Q. How many members are on the
coaching calls?
A. Because the group is structured with a "rolling"
membership, every week is different. Many members tell me that they receive all
the value and support they want from our weekly coaching check-in process and
they prefer not to attend the calls. Other members like to attend every call. If
we ever start to have the problem of too many members calling in, so that not
everyone gets a chance for coaching, I'll consider adding a second weekly call.
For now, that hasn't been a problem. If we have the opposite situation and only
one group member calls in for a given call, the call will be handled as a
one-on-one coaching session and will end after 30 minutes rather than the full
hour.
Q. When are the weekly coaching calls?
A. Most calls will be held Wednesday at 12:00 noon
eastern (New York time). If we ever need to reschedule, we'll do our best to let
you know as far in advance as possible. Before every call you will receive an
email reminder with the phone number and access code that you need to call in.
Q. Do I have to attend the weekly coaching calls?
A. No, while it is recommended, you do not need to
attend the weekly calls. Each call is recorded in MP3 format and made available
to group members so that you can go back and listen later. Some people find
value just from learning from the recordings and taking advantage of other parts
of the program.
Q. I haven't started my job search yet, should I wait to join
until I have?
A. The job market is growing increasingly
competitive by the day, unemployment is rising, and the business world seems to
be in a constant state of change. Now, more than ever, even as an employee, it
is important to begin to think of yourself as a free agent and the CEO of your
own career. There are only benefits to be had by planning ahead, proactively
learning the skills that you need to be career self-reliant, and making sure
that you have all the tools and knowledge you need to remain flexible and
adaptive in a rapidly changing business world. The Maximum Success Job Search
Coaching Club will help you in all of these ways-whether you are currently job
searching or not.
Q. Do you offer any type of guarantee?
A. Every cent you invest in this valuable program is
backed by my reliable, 100% no-time-limit guarantee. If for some reason, the
"Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club" doesn't live up to your expectations,
simply tell me and I'll refund your purchase out of my own pocket. You have my
word on it! All I ask is that you give the program the full 12 weeks and that
you commit to at least a minimum level of participation by completing at least
10 of the 24 coaching check-in forms that I send to you (although I recommend
the weekly calls, they aren't required to qualify for the guarantee).
Q. Do I have to wait for a new group to start or can I join at
any time?
A. Your membership in the group is a "rolling"
membership that lasts for 12 weeks. So yes, you can join at any time and you
will be invited to attend the next weekly session.
Q. Can I remain with the group more than 12 weeks?
A. Sure you can. If you'd like to and feel you are
receiving value from the group, we'd be happy to have you renew your membership.
Since out group goes beyond just current job searches to supporting our members
in developing the skills and plans that they need to become career self-reliant,
there are members who might want to stay with us more than 12 weeks.
Q. How do you handle confidentiality issues?
A. If confidentiality is an issue, you should use
your first name only and not reveal any other specific information (for example,
talk in general about your company and not use the company name) that might
allow others to guess your identity. Of course, the only people who have access
to the calls are other members, and you have all agreed to keep each others'
information private and not discuss it outside the group. So ideally, privacy
will never be an issue. As your coach I will be privy to information about your
identity and career, but I will not reveal anything about you to other group
members besides what you share yourself.
Q. Why did you start the Maximum Success Job Search Coaching
Club and what are your goals for the program?
A. When I founded
Distinctive Documents (aka
Distinctive Career Services LLC) in 1996, it was with a focus on developing
résumés and other career marketing tools for job seekers. Over the years we have
earned a reputation as a leader in the industry well-known for unmatched quality
of services and deliverables. I am sincerely proud of the fact that we have
worked successfully with many thousands of job hunters, providing them with the
documents that they need to promote and market themselves in the job market.
But, as important and helpful as it can be, a professionally written resumeis
only part of a successful job search. There are, of course, many benefits to a
professionally written résumé. But a résumé is just a tool, and like any tool,
if it isn't used in an effective way, it won't be as effective for you as it
could be. Time and again, I noticed that we would provide a résumé to a client
who would later admit that he or she wasn't quite sure what the next steps
should be. I'd get phone calls and email after email with questions about job
search strategies and techniques. As a trained and certified career coach this
was disturbing to me and I wanted to help. The Maximum Success Job Search
Coaching Club was the solution to this problem.
My goal in the group is to support and coach each and every one of the members
in not just conducting a fast, effective job search currently, but to support
and guide them in becoming "career self-reliant," helping them to develop the
essential skills to manage their careers now and in the future. I want my
clients to be successful and the Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club round
out and fill the previous gap in our services. Now, more than ever before, we
can honestly say that we provide our clients with ALL the support that they need
to achieve their career goals.
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