Doctor. Lawyer. Teacher. Astronaut. President of the United States. There are thousands of careers out there. Maybe you don't know what you want to be yet, but no matter what career you're interested in pursuing, the dream, and the hard work to get there, starts now. So it couldn't hurt to be prepared. From smart ways to pay for college to decoding a first paycheck, this book helps readers with the basics of choosing a college and setting a career plan they can achieve.
An insider's guide to getting bigger promotions, better clients, and a richer career life, this reference may take readers' careers from ordinary to extraordinary.
Why are so many people unhappy on-the-job? . As many as 7 out of 10 Americans are currently dissatisfied with their careers. . Expensive college degrees are seen by our society as a requirement to enter the American workforce. Yet, many students fail to graduate with the skills and knowedge necessary to embark on a satisfying career path.The result is an unprepared individual, saddled with debt, and frustrated with a system that has left them hanging with respect to making good career decisions. . The concept of work-life balance continues to elude our society as thousands of workers complain of 'living to work' instead of 'working to live.' It's no secret that career satisfaction eludes much of the American working population, but what's worse is the lack of resources and coaching to help today's employee find the career satisfaction they seek. In this innovative, step-by-step guide, workplace expert, professional development specialist, and nationally syndicated career advice columnist, J.T. O'Donnell (www.jtodonnell.com) unlocks the secrets to working smarter when it comes to creating a career you can get excited about.With more than 15 years experience, having coached thousands of individuals, O'Donnell will show you how to develop an authentic definition of professional success that will get you results. Here's what readers have to say: Her strategic approach really helped me flesh out what traits and experience I brought to the table for a potential employer in a different field. Her methods, encouragement and continued support have led me to find the right career path.- Helen D. I hated my job, wanted out, and didn't know where to begin. I had a decision to make: I could continue on the track to working my 9-5 job in front of a desk and let it define me and make me miserable, or look for something different. J.T.showed me that it's not your job that defines you at all;it's you who defines your job. She worked with me to figure out my strengths and work on my weaknesses. J.T.helped me learn that who I am is far more than the paycheck I bring in. Through that exploration of my own real desires, J.T.helped me to realize that I needed a far more creative outlet to be successful in. I can truly say that without J.T.'s help, I certainly would not be where I am today. I'm more aware of my life and the people in it...I absolutely love my job and really feel successful. I owe an immense amount of gratitude to J.T. for getting me to this place in my life. - Danielle H. The information in this book is so on target, I wish I'd found it earlier in my career.I can't begin to express what it is like to have finally found not just the reasons, but the solutions, to my past career disappointments.- John T.
Professionals face many critical crossroads in their careers, sometimes unpredictable, sometimes more expected, but for which they were often not truly prepared. This book discusses many such career transitions - from leaving a corporation to joining a non-profit, evolving from athlete to executive, or returning to a former employer. Using the stories of 50 leaders from all over the world, the authors describe what provokes the change, the challenges it creates, how the individual is surviving the transition, and what effective leaders do to navigate and grow from it. Disrupt Your Career offers a simple, easy-to-use framework to help make the most of any uncharted transition. Drawing on examples of a wide range of companies, it also provides recommendations to help organizations better acquire, develop and retain talent.
An exclusive guide to besting the competition and rising to the top in your career. Many people spend years working themselves into the ground, only to be passed over for the promotions, recognition, and pay raises they deserve. Today, there is a new set of unwritten rules for getting ahead, and they are all about making an impact. In Boost Your Career, Sander and Mechele Flaum expose what many people have taken years to learn: Success depends on the "impact dynamic." Defined as projects that make a resounding difference in an organization, with the added benefit of impressing key stakeholders, the impact dynamic is what separates over-deliverers from average workers. Drawing on their many years in business in a variety of high-level roles, the Flaums teach readers exactly what they need to know in today's job market: how to identify opportunities and successfully lead projects that will propel their careers. Packed with real and exclusive stories from seasoned professionals, newbies in big roles, and entrepreneurs in a variety of industries, this book shares the hidden hurdles, aha! moments, and tips for getting ahead in a competitive environment. Whether you've been at the same company for twenty years, you're starting a new job tomorrow, or you own your own business, Boost Your Career will make a resounding difference in how you view your professional role and frame your accomplishments.
An action-oriented guide to help anyone find their calling and achieve their goals, inspired by the author's popular blog post with the same title The Career Manifesto presents an inspiring and refreshingly simple approach to finding your passion and purpose and then jumpstarting a dream career to achieve those, by asking three essential questions: - What do you want your impact to be? - What are the potential pathways that move you towards your purpose? - How can you hold yourself accountable for your goals? Award-winning CEO of XO Group and sought-after speaker, Michael Steib, draws on his own diverse work experience and career highlights as well as powerful anecdotes from other successful business leaders to offer expert guidance, field-tested advice, and interactive exercises that will help you answer these three key questions, envision a goal and then craft and execute a plan to achieve it. For young professionals, entrepreneurs, and creatives seeking more purpose and meaning in their work and lives, The Career Manifesto is the essential way to build--and follow through on--an effective plan to excel at whatever job, project or career goal you put your mind to.
Are you stuck in an unsatisfying job or feel like you’re in the wrong profession? An industry that just isn’t a fit? Don’t just settle but succeed in the right career! Get unstuck and land a new career—one you’re genuinely passionate about. Switchers helps you realize that dream. Written by celebrated career coach and psychologist Dr. Dawn Graham, the book provides proven strategies that will get you where you want to go. The first step is to recognize that the usual rules and job search tools won’t work for you. Resumes and job boards were designed with traditional applicants in mind. As a career switcher, you have to go beyond the basics, using tactics tailor-made to ensure your candidacy stands out. In Switchers, Dr. Graham reveals how to: Understand the concerns of hiring managers Craft a resume that catches their attention within six seconds Spotlight transferable skills that companies covet Rebrand yourself—aligning your professional identity with your new aspirations Reach decision-makers by recruiting “ambassadors” from within your network Nail interviews by turning tough questions to your advantage Convince skeptical employers to shelve their assumptions and take a chance on you Negotiate a competitive salary and benefits package Packed with psychological insights, practical exercises, and inspiring success stories, Switchers helps you leap over obstacles and into a whole new field. This guide will help you pull off the most daring—and fulfilling—career move of your life!
We all know someone who is dissatisfied with their career but feels trapped in their current trajectory. What's not always clear is how they got there or, more importantly, how we can avoid the same fate as we develop our own careers. In a competitive job market, we need concrete, field-tested advice to help us ace the interview, land the job, and launch a career we love. Enter Dee Ann Turner. After more than three decades leading teams and coaching staff members at Chick-fil-A, she knows what it takes to build a fulfilling career. In this practical, hands-on book she reveals the secrets of - finding a job - preparing for an interview - conquering the first 90 days - managing work relationships - overcoming mistakes - adding value to your team - and so much more Anyone entering the job market or hoping to make a transition in their career--along with the parents, teachers, college counselors, or career counselors who coach them--will find invaluable, hard-won advice on how to create a work life you love.
Most people would love to have 20/20 hindsight on their careers. In Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads, college career experts Sheila Curran and Suzanne Greenwald have assembled the next best thing: the collective wisdom of a diverse and inspiring cast of success stories—twenty-three liberal arts graduates who have gone on to all manner of fascinating and satisfying professions. The authors have combined lessons from the stories with their own hands-on experience with thousands of students and graduates to outline a framework for finding a perfect career. What makes Smart Moves different is that it provides essential career advice while being fun to read. Readers will be struck by the frankness of the biographies of real graduates whose careers have taken twists and turns. Todd turned his passion into a living as the founder and CEO of several small businesses and a professional cellist; Thad's path took him from English major to a dream job in the front office of a major league baseball team; and a subway ride helped Sharon speed her intended career leap from a luxury department store to journalism. What binds them together is that they have all made smart moves on the way to career success—both during their liberal arts education and in the real world.Smart Moves not only champions the value of a liberal arts education, it also embraces the complexity of careers, and the notion that many different factors contribute to success: education, experience, attitude, personal characteristics, and a good dose of luck. Smart Moves is an inspiration to all those who are seeking proven strategies to follow their passion—no matter what their age.The quarter million liberal arts students who receive diplomas each year will truly benefit from the insights of Smart Moves. But this book is equally helpful for high school students (and their guidance counselors) looking at colleges, for graduates still looking for their life's work, and for parents who want to understand career realities for their children. An innovative career guide for our stressful, fast-paced world, Smart Moves for Liberal Arts Grads illuminates valuable career lessons with sharp advice and an unparalleled framework for success.
When his mother died, eight-year-old David Butler's life changed forever. Expectations for his future disappeared along with his mother's warm presence, but the days ahead still held promise. David set his own bar high, and this at risk child never let go of the idea that he would become something greater. Laughed at by his family when he announced his plan to go to college, David received little support for his dreams. But he never stopped asking himself whether he could really have that life, whether it was possible to transcend his current circumstances and reach higher. Do our limits stop us from achieving or just provide opportunities to push past them? Young David used his natural optimism to keep working, and he made it to college. Today he holds a bachelor's degree and an MBA, and he has found a fulfilling career. One important lesson was that he was never really alone; the teachers and mentors who helped him along the way were a constant source of inspiration. This profound story shows how personal strength can overcome adversity. And it shows how the challenges we face in life can be our greatest teachers in the end.
