Career Coach eNewsletter
Issue No. 30 - September - 2004
1. Editorial: The No#1 World's Worst Mistake (after - eating yellow snow!)
2. Career Development Notes: Word perfect - Making Your CV Work For You!
3. Success Stories: A Back-Handed Testimonial
4. Career Development Notes: How to Get The Best Career Coach For You
5. Just for a Laugh!: Managers Vs Engineers
1. Editorial: The No#1 World's Worst Mistake (after - eating yellow snow!)
Many years ago in a small Indian village, a farmer had the misfortune of owing a large sum of money to a village moneylender.
The moneylender, who was old and ugly, fancied the farmer's beautiful daughter. So he proposed a bargain.
He said he would forgo the farmer's debt if he could marry his daughter. Both the farmer and his daughter were horrified by the proposal. So the cunning money-lender suggested that they let providence decide the matter. He told them that he would put a black pebble and a white pebble into an empty money bag.
Then the girl would have to pick one pebble from the bag.
1) If she picked the black pebble, she would become his wife and her father's debt would be forgiven.
2) If she picked the white pebble she need not marry him and her father's debt would still be forgiven.
3) But if she refused to pick a pebble, her father would be thrown into jail.
They were standing on a pebble strewn path in the farmer's field. As they talked, the moneylender bent over to pick up two pebbles. As he picked them up, the sharp-eyed girl noticed that he had picked up two black pebbles and put them into the bag. He then asked the girl to pick a pebble from the bag.
Now, imagine that you were standing in the field.
What would you have done if you were the girl?
If you had to advise her, what would you have told her?
Careful analysis would produce three possibilities:
1. The girl should refuse to take a pebble.
2. The girl should show that there were two black pebbles in the bag and expose the money-lender as a cheat.
3. The girl should pick a black pebble and sacrifice herself in order to save her father from his debt and imprisonment.
Take a moment to ponder over the story. The above story is used with the hope that it will make us appreciate the difference between lateral and logical thinking. The girl's dilemma cannot be solved with traditional logical thinking. Think of the consequences if she chooses the above logical answers.
What would you recommend to the Girl to do?
Well, here is what she did ....
The girl put her hand into the moneybag and drew out a pebble. Without looking at it, she fumbled and let it fall onto the pebble-strewn path where it immediately became lost among all the other pebbles.
"Oh, how clumsy of me," she said. "But never mind, if you look into the bag for the one that is left, you will be able to tell which pebble I picked."
Since the remaining pebble is black, it must be assumed that she had picked the white one. And since the money-lender dared not admit his dishonesty, the girl changed what seemed an impossible situation into an extremely advantageous one.
'Moral of this Story' The accepted moral to this riddle is that most complex problems do have a simple solution.
Another possible solution to this dilemma is that the girl drops both the pebbles 'accidentally' on the beach and as the 'old and ugly' moneylender bends to search for the lost stones, she knees him in the matrimonials. The 'Moral of this Story' being that you should take responsibility for your own future, never try to negotiate with a cheat and learn to think 'outside the bag'. Readers, please send your solutions.
2. Career Development Notes: Word perfect - Making Your CV Work For You!
Hardworking? Perfectionist? Teamplayer? Sadly, so is everyone else. Your CV is your opportunity to sell yourself, so how do you make sure it catches an employer's eye? Kate Taylor from the Guardian on how to make your CV work for you.
You can view the full article here. If you would like us to show you how we can greatly improve your CV and therefore greatly improve your job offer chances then take advantage of our
free career consultation including CV review and call us
NOW on 0870 232 9932 /internationally +441564 779932. (we are kind, jolly and brilliant at what we do.)
Alternatively you can
JOIN US on our weekly
FREE CV FORUMS running Thursday lunch-time (12 - 1pm) where our team of expert consultants try to answer your questions about your job / CV / life / what car and everything. (Check out our Kath's legendary advice about sending your CV to recruiters with 'a tea bag.')
3. Success Stories: A 'Back-Handed' Testimonial
Following Kath's outburst in our August 2004 Newsletter: "I'll get the sack for this."We have received a number of messages from our coaching clients, including the following rather reluctant testimonial from Neil (real name available for shopping customers)
"Margaret
I know it’s taken me a while to write this, but I have been ludicrously busy, more or less on schedule with your predictions.
I’m still not absolutely sure what you did, but I can recognise the difference, but not half as much as friends who comment on the newly confident and capable Neil.
I found the self analysis difficult, pointless (at the time – why oh why do you need to know this), painful, but those painful sessions where you teased (bullied?!? ;-)) my thoughts out of me, and gently added your own have borne fruit.
I don’t think I recognise the downhearted, defeatist chap who walked into your office, but what a difference you’ve created.
Would I recommend you?, yes; have I?, yes; but it’s sometimes difficult to show even those you know would benefit how they could flourish.
So Thank You Margaret and Careers International, for your support, experience, and guidance. It has been an invaluable experience, and I look forward to keeping in touch.
Regards,
Neil
PS If you would like more, or less, or different would you let me know."
4. Career Development Notes: How to Get The Best Career Coach For You
Are you fully satisfied with where you are in your work and career? Do you feel that even though you're working hard, you're not at peak performance? Maybe it's time for a coach, an ally, who can help you sort through where you are and where you want to go.
Think about it, what top performer doesn't use a coach? Athletes, actors and professional speakers work with experts to achieve their goals. The corporate world is now recognizing the value of coaching to develop leaders and strong team players, and many companies provide access to professional services to support their staff's performance.
You can hire a coach on your own or you may be able to use services offered by your company. First, check with your human resources department to find out what your company offers to employees at your career level. For senior management, companies may provide executive coaching to develop leadership capacity and help executives achieve the company's desired business results. For middle managers, coaches usually help set performance goals that will enable them to build key management skills and work with people effectively. There are also team coaches available to help the work groups achieve their objectives.
When a company is paying for coaching, they understandably want it used to support business results and work unit performance, as well as help you meet your career needs. (A study by Merrill C Anderson for MetrixGlobal found 529% ROI following their company executive coaching programme). If you feel that you are looking for something more or different than what is being offered, participate fully in your company's coaching programme and consider hiring your own coach.
Working with a coach privately enables you to explore any area of your life, not just workplace effectiveness. For example, coaches can help in areas of health, finances, relationships and family life. You decide what your priorities are and the coach will help you form meaningful goals. The coach will hold the bar high for you and help lead you to be accountable to yourself. You'll learn to discard things that are dragging you down, and create opportunities for easier results.
“I've grown in working with Margaret, my career coach" shares Mark Ashworth, an engineer who made a mid-life change to become the CEO of Young Enterprise after 20 years of working with the BBC. "She's challenged my ideas and beliefs, and keeps me moving forward in the process - towards my goals and what I want. If it wasn't for her, I'd still be pondering my next moves."
Most coaches working privately with individuals today charge about £200 - £450 per month for 60 minute meetings once a week, either on the telephone or face-to-face. Usually they work with clients in a three to six month cycle. This is a significant investment, but is well worth it to get your career and your life on track.
Before hiring a coach, become an informed buyer:
- Start by checking out the Coaching Buyer’s Guide by the Chartered Institute of Personnel & Development’s (IPD) website, is the UK’s largest association of Human Resource professionals and provides a Code of Practice for Career Consultants. Review articles and books on the topic and talk to people about their own coaching experiences.
- Be clear on your objectives and what you want out of the relationship. While referrals are great, someone who clicks with your best friend may not click with you.
- Interview at least three professionals before you make a decision. Usually, coaches offer one free coaching session so you can get a feel for their style, their personality and their approach. Ask about their experience and qualifications. Check out their references.
Avoid coaches that appear to have any sort of conveyor belt system or are "Clock watching." Look for those that are results-oriented, collaborative and focused on YOU. If they meet your standards, trust your instinct - is this the right coach for you?
NB. Keep in mind, coaching is not psychotherapy. Coaches are trained to provide a process for clients looking for higher levels of performance, learning, or satisfaction. If you are seeking emotional healing or relief from psychological pain, you want to work with a therapist who is trained to do this work. Coaching can be done concurrently with psychotherapy, but is not a substitute for it.
5. Just for a Laugh!: Managers Vs Engineers
A man is flying a hot air ballon and realises he is lost. He reduces height and spots a man down below. He lowers the balloon further and shouts, "Excuse me. Can you help me?"
"I promised a friend I would meet him half an hour ago, but I do not know where I am."
The man below says, "Yes, you are in a hot air balloon, hovering approximately 30 feet above this field. You are between 40 and 42 degrees latitude, north and 58 and 60 degrees longitude, west."
"You must be an engineer," calls down the balloonist.
"Yes, I am, replies the man. "How did you know?"
"Well, says the balloonist, "Everything you have told me is technically correct, but I have no idea what to make of your information, and the fact is I am still lost."
The man below says, "You must be a manager."
"Yes, I am." replies the balloonist, "But how did you know?"
"Well comes the answer, "You did not know where you are, nor where you are going. You have made a promise which you have no idea how to keep, and you expect me to solve your problem."
"The fact is, you are in exactly the same position you were in before we met, BUT NOW IT IS SOMEHOW MY FAULT."
NOTE: Please add "margaret@careersnet.com" to your whitelist or address book in your e-mail programme, so that you have no trouble receiving future issues!
Margaret Stead at Careersnet helps individuals, executives and business owners market themselves online into new jobs, careers - building customer-employer relationships and increasing their job satisfaction.
She offers personal coaching, workshops, tutorials, classes and reports on the telephone and in one to one meetings that help people just like you do job hunting that gets results. You can learn more about these terrific resources at www.careersnet.com
She's appeared on radio programmes and been interviewed by the FT, Daily telegraph, been featured in dozens of online and print publications including CNN Global and Yahoo review of Top Careers Sites. Margaret's articles on career coaching, job hunting, outplacement and personal development are regularly published in hundreds of marketing sites on the Web.
Originally from York, Margaret now enjoys the sunshine in the Heart of England and doesn’t miss the tourists at all.
