Career Goals and Stress

"Keep interested in your own career, however humble;it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time."Max Ehrmann"Desiderata"When it comes to career success, direction and focus are crucial. But beyond direction, how effective is it to have goals? Requirements for Effective Goal-SettingMuch has been researched and written about the effectiveness of goal setting. The findings say that : Difficult goals lead to higher performance than easy goals.  Difficult goals lead to higher performance than "do your best" goals.  Setting specific goals results in more precise performance than setting "do your best" goals. Just having the goal is not enough. You must develop a strategy to make it happen. What are the activities you need to perform everyday? Plan those activities, but also stay alert and open to new ways to achieve your goals as they present themselves. There are three critical requirements that dictate how well goal setting will work: Commitment to your goals.  Periodically reviewing where you stand regarding goal achievement (getting feedback). Belief that you can achieve your goals (self-confidence and self-efficacy). You need to genuinely desire the goals you set. If you don't like your job and don't want to be there, then it is difficult to be committed. It's also crucial that you believe that you can achieve the goals you set for yourself.Stress and Goal SettingGoals create striving which results in more stress. So how do you deal with this stress?Since I am notoriously poor at pacing myself, I created a structure to help me with this process. My plan includes eating a healthy diet and exercising regularly, but also not scheduling clients on Fridays. I never work past 8 p.m. I plan vacations and weekends away, and schedule social events with friends at least once per week. Part of my stress management program also involves not over-booking myself with social activities so that I have time to retreat for rest and recuperation.As I approached graduation from college many years ago, I wrote a poem about goal setting which I titled, "My Brook and I."I remember the brookstreaming though the woods;spending hours around it,building forts, wiping the mud off me with skunk cabbage.I remember the brook on sunny days;Water babbling over stones and rocks, pieces of wood;making the water ripple the way it did.I wondered what happened to the brooktraveling away from my yard.I had a goal for my brook to flow to the ocean...but then what?I see goals for myselfthwarted, rearranged, fulfilled.But the goal for my brook;What happened to it?Deepak Chopra, in The Seven Spiritual Laws of Success, says that if we want to have a successful career, we should first center ourselves and then release our intentions (our career goals) to the universe. We should not be attached to the way these goals develop, or to the exact outcome, but leave the details to the universe. We can get the same results through effort and trying, he says, but the result is stress, which can lead to heart attacks and other physical illnesses.Sometimes we focus more on our unhappiness with our present situation, than on what we want to achieve. Chopra says that we should accept where we are now, be fully present in the moment and concentrate on our deepest intentions (goals). Goals should be difficult, but achievable with persistent effort. Goals that are too extreme, such as doubling your income in one year, can only discourage you. Goals work because you persist and focus your efforts in a specific direction.Without that direction, we can find ourselves floating through our lives, more at the mercy of outside forces that are not devoted to our welfare or success. But we can manage our goals in a way that does not create undo stress by not being attached to the exact way they are achieved.Having set goals the brook and I build toward them. The brook unable to know...about a pipe in the ground, a seeping marsh, a dam.Myself not knowing the course I will follow.Knowing what I want,yet finding it hard to grasp.I remember years of competition, of struggle, of acceptance.Then discovering what is real, important;myself, my friends, expression;a soft kitten purring on my lap;peace.Being more than a doctor, a lawyer.Knowing comfort, relaxation.Being myself.Approaching the completion of one goal,I set new ones.But fulfilling them means going away, sorrow.Like the brook moves on, streams to the river...the ocean.Saying goodbye to familiar things,friends.Facing a reoccurrence of similar past memories,painful.ConclusionIn my business I set performance goals for myself every year. I also set goals for relationships, finances, home, physical and mental health, as well as spiritual development. I can attest to the fact that the more specific the goal, and the more frequently I review that goal and focus on it, the more likely I am to meet that goal. It helps to write down your goals, read through them periodically, visualize them and keep a picture journal that represents the achievement of those goals. But it also helps to listen to the feedback from the universe, and make adjustments to those goals when necessary. We should have a career plan, but be flexible with how it unfolds.I know a word...self-fulfillment.Being vulnerable, can I take chances?Being strong, grinding ahead through disappointments.Being weak, letting go of crippled goals.Like a brook who misses the river,finding another happiness.Being motivated, seeking what I am after,But not too aggressive.Being easy, tension-free.Making it through the insecurityLike cool water in a brook;not knowing what will come.Traveling through the seasons of time.Molding myself to the environment like the brookmakes its path through nature.Sliding over any obstaclesthe brook continues over rocks, pieces of wood.Freezing in the rough, cold spots;melting in the warm.Praying for a map free of dams to followin a steady, unchartered progression.My brook and I.

Is Your Resume On Target?

When writing a resume, create a mental picture of a desk piled high with dozens or even hundreds of resumes next to each other. These resumes were submitted by people who want the job you are applying for and are just as qualified as you. Keeping this image forefront is critical to your success in creating compelling “ad copy.” It will force you to focus on creating a strong title and a targeted opening which tells the employer to consider your qualifications with care. Each reader who picks up your resume will make a quick decision as to whether to read it carefully — therefore, the top one-third of your resume should include a powerful statement that sums who you are and encapsulates your professional experience. These are the questions a hiring manager wants answered: • The field you are in -- even more specifically, what department you want to work in and the title you would like to have. • How much experience you have in a similar position or in the field? • What special skills and/or certifications you have? • The difficult problems you have solved and what you have accomplished. • The advances you have made throughout your career. • The type of person you are and your work characteristics. A profile statement is an overview, a brief summary of your accomplishments. It should be 1-2 paragraphs long with of 3-4 sentences, or perhaps a series of bulleted points. Here’s an example of a tightly written, short summary statement BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT MANAGERAccomplished marketing and business development executive with perennial record of success driving marketing strategies and capitalizing on opportunities that have led to multimillion-dollar growth. Able to deliver results that position organizations for immediate and long-term growth. Expert presenter, astute marketer, and confident team leader with documented strength in forging strong, sustainable executive-level relationships. Skillful change agent with advanced problem solving and communication skills. Understands both macro picture of market issues and minute details necessary for successful business solutions. Goal-driven. Below is an example of series bulleted statements Accomplished manager with 20+ years of experience as Environmental, Health & Safety specialist for industry-leading organizations. Maintain highest quality standards to avoid time and cost expenditures. Quality and safety specialist with the ability to analyze operations, pinpoint areas for improvement and redesign, and implement plans that generate profitable results.  Excellent relationship builder with success in forming strong, sustainable relationships and securing consensus among cross-functional team members for key initiatives. To wrap upThe most qualified candidate is not always the one to get an interview – the one with the strongest resume is. Your profile sets the tone for the rest of the resume, and serves as a tease that invites the reader to take notice. A resume is more than just a piece of paper, and as a job seeker it is your responsibility to make it easy for the reader to conclude that you are the best candidate for an interview. A targeted opening will capture the interest of the reader.Certified in all three areas of the job search – Certified Interview Coach ™ (CIC) Job & Career Transition Coach (JCTC) and Nationally Certified Resume Writer (NCRW) – Linda is qualified to assist you in your career transition. Whether it be a complete career makeover, interview preparation or resume assistance.

How to get maximum milage out of career fairs?

This article talks in brief about how to get maximum milage out of career fairs.You step into the hubbub of the career fair, take a deep breath, and make your way toward a representative from the top-ranked company on your personal list. This is the company you want to work for, and the woman you are approaching is the first gatekeeper.
You make eye contact. Smile. Say hi. Your practiced firm handshake follows. And then youre on.
Even though no one yells Lights, camera, action! this might be as close to an audition as you will ever come. What can you say and do during the next 60 seconds to make this recruiter want to explore the possibility of hiring you?
Several career services counselors recommend drafting an introduction as a brief commercial that allows you to sell yourself. Mark Reed, career counselor at California State University, Hayward, suggests developing an elevator speech, a personal presentation just long enough to say to someone in an elevator before they reach their floor. (After all, you never know when or where an opportunity will arise to pitch yourself.)
Follow the Formula
College career counselors and employers alike suggest following a formula for your introduction. According to them, students should provide the following information during their introduction:
Name Class (senior, junior, sophomore) Major Opportunities that you are seeking Relevant experience (work, internship, volunteer work) Highlights of skills and strengths Knowledge of the company Tailor your introduction to each employer based on good research and knowledge of each companythis will generally impress recruiters. Ted Bouras, director of the Grainger Center for Supply Chain Management at the University of Wisconsin-Madison Business School, says you should articulate how youll fit with the company based upon your research.
Do your research before the career fair. A list of employers attending is usually available prior to the event through the career services office. Most companies have web sites that provide information about their products and services. Other resources such as annual reports, press releases, and newspaper coverage are also very helpful and can usually be found on the Internet or in the library with a little digging.
Ask an Engaging Question
Tracey Cross-Baker, associate director of career services and leadership education at St. Lawrence University, suggests that you end your introduction by asking a focused question that will engage the employer in conversation. Robert Jankouskas, human resources analyst for the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, said he often remembers students by the questions they ask during career fairs.
Cross-Baker suggests asking: Could you tell me more about the new (product) you are developing? or Could you tell me more about your financial management training program?
Several things career services counselors and employers say you should avoid doing include:
Asking what the company does; Asking if the company has any jobs; and When asked what type of position you are seeking, saying you would be willing to do anything at the company. Practice to Perfection
Many career services counselors recommend practicing your introduction. Winging it is not a very wise plan of action, especially when a potential job is at stake.
Youll project confidence and charisma during your introduction if you are comfortable with what you are saying. Remember, the words that you say are just part of your presentation package to potential employers. Your overall manner and confidence are also critical components to the successful introduction. Of course, your confidence and personality should be obvious, but not in an exaggerated or cocky way...just a professional one.
Incorporate positive nonverbal communications, such as eye contact, facial expressions, body language, posture, etc. A mirror, a friend, and/or a career services staff member are all good practice partners. Ask for constructive criticism and try it again. Take the adage practice doesnt make perfect; perfect practice makes perfect to heart.
A solid introduction will help you move on to the important next stepthe interview. A poor introduction, however, may put you on a slippery slope to the cutting room floor.