Workshop: "Using self exploration and discovery tools to change careers"
Tuesday, January 19th, 2010 6:30 PM – 8:30 PM
“Back Bay” Conference Room W92 Bldg, 1st Floor
Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
The current economic environment is driving many professionals to reassess their career options. One of these options often includes changing careers. Although there is no exact science to switching careers, successful career changers are deliberate and thorough in their quest. Workshop participants will be introduced to several career assessment tools and their role in the job search and career change process. Participants will also learn to map assessment descriptors to potential new careers.
For additional information and to register, please go to: http://www.alpfaboston.org/tsg.php
7th ALPFA Boston Annual Executive Summit & Career Fair
LOOKING BEYOND THE HORIZON - Managing in times of Change
DATE: November 12, 2009
TIME: 2:00pm to 5:00pm (Career Fair)
5:30pm to 10:00pm (Summit Program)
Location:
Sheraton Boston (Copley), 39 Dalton Street, Boston, MA
http://www.alpfaboston.org/executivesummit/
Harvard College Latina Empowerment and Development Conference
Latina Development & Empowerment Conference
Saturday, November 14, 2009
9am - 6pm
Harvard Law School
Ames Courtroom/Austin Hall
http://leadconference.blogspot.com/
The National Society of Hispanic MBAs - Boston Chapter
Build Your Competitive Edge Thru Your Personal Brand
Date: November 18th, 2009
Location: Liberty Mutual
30 St James Street
Boston MA
Time: 5:30pm to 8:00pm
Cost: Free
http://www.acteva.com/booking.cfm?bevaid=192069
A friend of mine found this amazing blog, Spin Strategy, tools for an intelligent job search. As a career coach, I wholeheartedly recommend this blog for two reasons: 1) it has lots of specific information about the job search process; and 2) the author's philosophy about the job search process makes a lot of sense! He discussed three key areas every job seeker MUST keep in mind. These are: Strategy, Psychology and Networking.
There is even a free book you can download that goes over these three topics. I have skimmed the book and it looks like an easy read full of practical information gathered in a refreshing way.
Let's recap part 1. How would you answer the dreaded question: What have you been doing since you became unemployed? Your answer to this question could open or close doors during your job search.
Imagine for a moment that it is you asking the question to someone you might be considering to hire. If this person answers "I've been looking for work," then the conversation may turn to something like, where, how many or what. But if you answer this question by saying, "while I have been following several strong leads, I have also been taking classes, volunteering or mentoring." Do you see the difference? Which candidate sounds more interesting? Which person would you be interested in getting to know better and perhaps inviting in for an interview?
Now, in order to be able to provide an answer like the second person in our story, you need to be doing something along those lines. I am not asking you to lie about how you spend your time. If you are interested in learning a new subject or trends in your area of interest, there are many schools offering free online courses. One I recommend is MIT's Open CourseWare. There are many other colleges and universities offering you the opportunity to expand your horizons and strengthen your knowledge base. Another option is to volunteer or become a mentor.
The main idea is to use the time you have in between jobs to show potential employers--and yourself--that you are a proactive individual who knows how to make the best of a tough situation. All you need is time and motivation. We know you have the time. But do you have the determination and self-discipine to improve your skills on your own?
