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Thank you to all who were able to attend the live session on "Your Second Career" Preparing athletes to succeed after sports. And for those who were unable to attend the playback link is available for your listening pleasure :)
I had such a great time and hope to provide more career related teleconferences in the very near future.
When Annette Huygens -Tholen (former Olympian, Author and founder of Success Beyond Sport) approached me about having a "conversation" around career exploration, job readiness and transitional skills via a teleconference. I was honored and very excited to be able to share my passion and commitment to the development of athletes both in the playing arena and beyond.
As most of you already know, I was a former collegiate student-athlete at Robert Morris University (aka "Bobbie Mo"). I was very competitive as a player and enjoyed setting goals for myself during the season. Whether it was increasing the number of rebounds I could "grab" during the game or to increase my free-throw shot percentage (between me and you I could have done a lot better in that area) :):) I often found myself transferring a lot of the skill sets that I learned as an athlete and incorporating them into my everyday life and career. And, for most athletes goal setting is a familiar place to start and I encourage you to try it!
During my interview with Annette, I covered several areas of an athletes second career including but not limited to job readiness, transitional skills, interviewing skills, networking best practices and resume writing. Check it out and I truly hope that you take something away from the session that you can incorporate in your life and job search!
Until next time, Prepare, Connect and Explore the possibilities!
To hear the teleconference click on the link below:
Your Second Career - The Interview
Password: SUCCESS
Good day everyone!
I had the pleasure of listening to an interview with Annette Huygens-Tholen on Blogstation radio yesterday – it was very insightful and motivational. If you are not familiar with her just yet, she is an Olympian, Performance Coach and now Author of a book that many athletes will be able to relate to whether you’ve played professional or not.
The book is titled: How to Retire from Sports and Keep Winning.
I just ordered my copy… I provided the link if you are interested in ordering a copy for yourself.
After listening to the interview it prompted me to look through a few articles and links that I’ve compiled over the years and came across this one! Enjoy J
Six Keys to A Successful Career Transition
Following are six keys to planning for your career transition proactively:
1. Prepare mentally for the transition. The transition from the prestige and status of being a professional athlete to becoming a "regular person" is not always easy. Many athletes face a period of depression and grieving. Some make reckless decisions and get into trouble. Others find that they haven't saved enough money to keep up with their spending, and get into financial trouble. EVERY athlete needs to be thinking about the inevitable transition with a realistic, positive, proactive attitude.
2. Leverage your relationships. Professional athletes have access to wealthy, powerful, and connected people that other people do not enjoy. Now - while you still have your status as an elite athlete - is the time to build your network. That way, doors will open for you long after your playing days end.
3.What are your dreams? Despite what you may believe, playing golf and sitting by the pool every day gets boring in about six months. You have lots of time left to fulfill new dreams - if you take time to think about your passions, ambitions, and aspirations. What would be something you could do after sports that would get you excited to wake up every day and contribute?
4.Assess yourself and know who you are as the "product." We all have different talents, values, and personality styles. Some athletes will make superb coaches or general managers, while many will not. Some will be natural entrepreneurs. Others will be leaders in the public sector or a non-profit foundation. Many will be excellent salespeople, or leaders in large companies. You need to invest some time to think about who you are, what you can offer, and what kinds of skills you want to develop to achieve your dreams.
5.What does the market have to say? Eventually, your dreams and talents need to find a niche in the marketplace. It is important for you to do some research now. For instance, many athletes want to start a restaurant chain with their name on the door. However, given that most restaurants fail within a year, these would-be entrepreneurs should do research to learn what it really takes to run a successful restaurant, and how they can attract the resources and talent who can make the restaurant thrive. Regardless of your aspirations, you need to be talking to people and doing some homework to learn about the requirements of the marketplace.
6. Create a transition development plan. Once you know what you want to do and what it will take to succeed, you can create a plan to be ready for your transition. What skills will you need to learn? Who are people you know who can help you? What is the action plan to succeed? How to retire from Sports & Keep Winning
Informational Interviewing in 5 easy steps for Athletes...
“According to research on networking, you are only six acquaintances away from a personal connection to anyone in the world. Six calls away from the most incredible informational interview imaginable.” - Patrick Combo, Major in Success
In my experience coaching and facilitating career development and job readiness workshops. One of the best ways to learn about a career field, industry, or career path is to find out what it is like from others who have been there.
You gain valuable inside information from talking to someone in your current field, or a new field of interest, which includes learning about the day-to-day responsibilities of a position, getting insights into industry trends, or learning about required training/certification and or education for career success.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You are not job hunting at this stage. You are simply seeking INFORMATION!
I like to think of the informational Interview in 5 steps: # Identify people to interview # Initiate Contact # Prepare for the Interview # Conduct the Informational Interview # Follow-up ....... Now more than ever, the importance of reaching out to individuals you know and networking to get to know people you aren't as close with is critical. Attend as many networking and industry events as possible...
If you are interested in receiving professional networking templates, sample scripts and FAQ's simply drop me a note...
Have a wonderful day!
Elise :)
A few sample questions once you've identified a person to conduct the informational interview with...
# What do you do as a ...? # How did you begin your career? # What is a typical day like for you? # What entry-level jobs are available in this field? # What other career areas do you feel are related to your work? # What is the profile of the person most recently hired at my level? # What are the rewards/challenges/frustrations of your work? # What are the major qualifications for success in this particular occupation? [*]Can you recommend trade journals, magazines or professional associations?
On behalf of AthletesWork. I offer my sympathy and support to those affected by the earthquake in Haiti.
Relief efforts are being mobilized by many organizations and I strongly urge you to join these efforts. Listed below are links to some of the leading organizations on our website.
As current and former athletes representing many states, countries and backgrounds, we recognize that it is times like these when borders and boundaries dissolve. We are called to help in any and every way we can.
I am sure there are efforts to mobilize relief in every community in which you reside and I encourage each of you to engage with and support these initiatives as much as possible. The need in Haiti is staggering and the rebuilding effort will take years. It is time to do our part.
Regards, Elise James Founder
We are providing links to some of the leading organizations:
* American Red Cross * Clinton Bush Haiti Fund * Doctors Without Borders * Mercy Corps
www.redcross.org
http://www.clintonbushhaitifund.org/
http://www.mercycorps.org/
https://donate.doctorswithoutborders.org/SSLPage.aspx?pid=197
Happy New Year! I hope everyone had a wonderful holiday season and is ready for a prosperous and fulfilling New Year!
This article was in my in box a few days ago. After reading it I just had to pass this article along to you. If you don't subscribe to BNET I would... It's a great site that has a lot of career and business related articles written by individuals who are passionate about their area of expertise! ENJOY!
I recently read the Executive Interview by Marian Faux and wanted to share key points that can be applied in an early stage job search as well as in an Executive job search. She identified 8 Cardinal Rules of Answering Interview Questions. I went on to provide some context for each cardinal rule. So, here we go....
I hope this was helpful for you and as always if you have any questions or comments you can always reach out to me via email. Until next time stay positive and focused! Elise :)
Few things impress an interviewer as much as showing in-depth knowledge of the company at which you're being interviewed.
I learned very early on in the interviewing process how important it is to have atleast a basic understanding of what the company does, where they stand in the marketplace, what industry they are a part of , who the president of the company is, etc.
Now a days there is no excuse not to do your research before you walk in for the interview. It doesn't have to cost you a penny. You can find all of this information for free!
1. The best resource for information may be people who work or have worked for the company; check with friends or friends of friends who know first hand what the company is like.
2. Browsing the company's website. Generally speaking, you can find great company information on the "About Us" page, "Company info" page and the "Careers" page.
3. You can find in-depth financial information, company profiles and industry summaries in several business directories, particularly Hoover's Handbook of American Business, which you can access for Free via online libraries or going to a library in person (I know, imagine that ) :):) www.hoovers.com. Another great place is Vault.com, where you'll find more free information, plus a taste of results in employee surveys about salary and other topics.
You've graduated, have little money and lots of time NOW WHAT?
Well, there is HOPE that you haven't wasted four years in school and that with a positive attitude, hard work ethic and a sense of humor :) You too will be prepared for your next interview and on your way to landing the job that you want for FREE!
This post is about FREE information services available to you as a job seeker.
1. Fax your Resume at No Cost: Making a trip to Kinko's every time you want to fax a cover letter and resume can cost several dollars a pop. But you can send short faxes free from your laptop or home computer to potential employers in the US and Canada from www.faxzero.com
2. Free Cover Letter Samples: If you get writers block every time you think about drafting a cover letter or thank-you note to a potential employer, it may help to look at exasmples of other job hunter's approaches. You can see more than 20 free samples compiled by Denver career management consultant William S. Frank at www.careerlabs.com/letters; they cover such topics as "Say Thank you with Class" and 'Follow-Up After a Casual Conversation."
3. Free Resume Samples: More than 50 other free examples of letters arranged by occupation, format,etc. by Susan Ireland, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to the Perfect Resume, can be found at www.susanireland.com/resumeindex.htm
In addition to these free resources. There are tons of others just like these both online and in magazines that are available to you. So, try not to get frustrated there are plenty of Free resources that are available to assist you in preparing for your job search, sometimes they just take a little but of researchand digging around to find...
If you have any questions, want to contribute or find out about other free resources send me an email:elise@athleteswork.com
Until next time...
Elise :)
“According to research on networking, you are only six acquaintances away from a personal connection to anyone in the world. Six calls away from the most incredible informational interview imaginable.” - Patrick Combo, Major in Success
In my experience coaching and facilitating career development and job readiness workshops. One of the best ways to learn about a career field, industry, or career path is to find out what it is like from others who have been there.
You gain valuable inside information from talking to someone in your current field, or a new field of interest, which includes learning about the day-to-day responsibilities of a position, getting insights into industry trends, or learning about required training/certification and or education for career success.
IMPORTANT NOTE: You are not job hunting at this stage. You are simply seeking INFORMATION!
I like to think of the informational Interview in 5 steps:
If you are interested in receiving professional networking templates, sample scripts and FAQ's simply drop me a note...
Have a wonderful day!
Elise :)
A few sample questions once you've identified a person to conduct the informational interview with...
I recently attended a conference for Player Development Professionals. The conference was attended by NBA, NFL, NHL, NCAA player development and industry experts who assist athletes in career development, life skills and transitional skills outside of sports.
It was a an amazing and rewarding experience that I was fortunate enough to be a part of.
One of the areas that that I spoke about during the break out/feedback sessions was job shadowing and the reality that most collegiate student-athletes either don't have time or can't work during the season and sometimes during the off season.
So, what is job shadowing - its a learning experience which can take place at a business/company. It typically lasts one full day but can go for as long as a few weeks.
During the job shadow, you will "shadow"/follow an employee (called your "host") during a typical day at work. You will observe and ask questions about his/her duties. Completing journal logs and or written assignments will help you understand, think about and reflect on your experience,
If you have the opportunity to job shadow - definitely take advantage of it. Its a great way to learn about an industry in a hands on way...
Job Shadowing give you a chance to:
*** These are only a few reasons why job shadowing is important.
If you are interested in learning more about job shadowing send me an email.
The next post will be about "Informational Interviewing" and the types of questions to ask individuals who might be in a career/ career path and or industry that you want to learn more... Stay tuned...
As always don't hesitate to reach out if you have any questions or need further information on any topics.
Best, Elise
Last week was an awesome week! I was asked to speak at the YWCA of greater Manhattan on the topic of business networking!
I had such a wonderful experience and want to take the time to thank the staff and the participants of the workshop - what a dynamic, motivated and engaged group!
So, I started off the session with some basic points about networking... Do's and Don'ts and we ended the session with participants presenting awesome "30-second" commercials about themselves - What a great session! Thanks to everyone for participating!
The Two Most Valuable Skills You Can Develop to Network Successfully
Critical Networking Skill #1 - Listening Successful Networking Must be Reciprocal
Never attend a social or business event with the idea that it is all about you; it is not. Networking is about relationship building not making sales pitches where you force others to listen to you droll on excitedly about yourself.
This is also true with social and professional networking through the Internet. When building networks you must give something back. And, to sustain good personal and business relationships both parties must benefit in some way.
The Two Most Important Networking Skills The two most important networking skills you can develop are listening and asking questions. These two skills will impress your clients even more than your best business statistics.
Critical Networking Skill #2 – Asking the Right Questions Selling Yourself is not All About You
To get someone excited about you get them talking about themselves and their own accomplishments first. When people feel good about themselves they are more likely to feel good about you as well. It is important to show that you respect and value someone by listening and asking the right questions.
To wrap-up the session we paired up and did an exercise asking eachother questions and practicing active listening. A question that comes up frequently is "During a networking session what type of questions should I ask after the initial introduction." Listed below are a few to get you started - Enjoy!
The Basics – Networking Questions 1.What is your name? 2.How are you affiliated with this organization (if necessary) 3.What do you do for a living? 4.What company do you work for? 5.How long have you been with the company?
Now What?... Where do we go from here…
1.So where else do you normally network? 2.So what do you like the best about what you do? 3.Oh I see… So what got you started in that direction?
I will highlight a few blogs that I found offer very practical advice on networking and careers in my next post.
Have a wonderful day and Happy Networking!
So, it's been a long time since my last post... I miss all of my loyal readers and hope that the wait was well worth it!
I know that you are probably thinking to yourself - what has she been up to all of this time? Well, I haven't been sitting around all day... But instead, researching more than 400 career websites, resources and other links that will help you along your job readiness and career development journey.
I’m also working very hard in completing my Global Career Development Facilitator's certification - It's a national certification for career development professionals and the first time that the certification has been offered in the “Big Apple."
I will earn my certification in June of this year along with 5 other dedicated career development professionals. The class is eye-opening and extremely rewarding - it's refreshing to be in the company of such dedicated professionals...
Now, that I've updated you on what has been keeping me busy for the past month... I hope all of you are doing well, staying positive and networking during these challenging times.
Listed below are a sampling of industry specific job boards and reference links from the 400+ career websites that I've captured, organized by function and industry and will post (on a separate page - username and login required) in the coming weeks.
If you don't see the industry that you are looking for send me an email and I'll be more than happy to send the links to you.
Sales and Marketing
More will be posted... Enjoy!
The cover letter is usually the first thing the hiring manager sees, and is one of the best tools to make a positive first impression. Hiring managers view this document as more than just a supplement to your employment history - it offers insight into your career aspirations and level of initiative. The following tips can help you make sure you convey the right messages: •Address the letter to the person hiring for the position. Call the firm's main phone number and ask for the name and the title of the person if it is not spelled out in the job ad. Verify and double-check the spelling of the name and person's title.
•Start strong, with a powerful opening paragraph that briefly describes how you heard about the position and why you're interested.
•Tailor it to the specific job opening and company. Research the firm and the industry through the Internet, trade publications and the library. Within the letter, demonstrate your knowledge of the field and the position's requirements, and explain why your background meets the firm's needs.
•Be careful not to rehash your resume in the cover letter. Instead, focus on key aspects of your background that relate directly to the job.
•Close the letter by outlining your next steps, stating when you will contact the person to follow up, reinforcing your enthusiasm for the job.
For additional information I would encourage you to pick up a copy of Job Hunting For Dummies, 2nd Edition.
Writing an Effective Resume In order to capture the attention of employers and recruiters today, your resume must do more than simply list your job skills and accomplishments. These tips can help ensure your resume makes it past the initial evaluation phase and into the hands of a hiring manager.
DO: • Tailor your resume for each position by highlighting your qualifications and expertise that match specific job requirements. • Accurately summarize the software and technologies that you are familiar with and how long you have used each one. • Highlight your achievements by demonstrating the ways in which the project you worked on affected the company's bottom line. Did they increase sales, broaden the customer base or reach target markets? • Clearly show areas where you have been given increased responsibility for a job well done. • Include special recognition, awards and participation in relevant professional organizations. • Proofread for errors. You can be screened out for not being detail-oriented. • Review your resume with your references so they are up-to-date on your current accomplishments. • Update your resume after every position or significant freelance assignment.
DON'T: • Misrepresent your education or experiences; one fabrication is often grounds for termination. • Give reasons for termination or leaving a job. • Include personal information such as your height, Social Security number, and personal or religious philosophies. • List references or state: "References available on request." The interview will assume that you will provide these contacts when asked. • Use exact dates. Months and years are sufficient. • Include your phone number or e-mail address at your current job unless your boss is aware of your intent to leave. • List your high school education if you're a college graduate. • Provide salary information in the resume. If the ad requests a salary range, include it in the cover letter. Otherwise, wait until the interview to discuss the issue.
I highly recommend grabbing a copy of "Job Hunting For Dummies, 2nd Edition for additional information from your local library, bookstore or Amazon books.
Until next time.... Next week will feature "Writing an Effective Cover Letter"
"A man can be as great as he wants to be. If you believe in yourself and have the courage, the determination, the dedication, the competitive drive and if you are willing to sacrifice the little things in life and pay the price for the things that are worthwhile, it can be done." ~ Vince Lombardi
Now, who would've thought that the words of a famous football coach would ring so loudly during the presidential campaign? Throughout the campaign I often compared it my experiences on the court. At various points throughout the campaign, I felt tired, overwhelmed, burned out and extremely emotional at times. There were many times that I had flashbacks of a typical basketball season. There were so many highs and lows during the last twenty months that regardless of who you were voting for you probably recognized by the end of last week that each candidate had to have plenty of endurance, a gameplan and dedication to be able to sacrifice the little things in order to reach their goals.
As Athletes there are similar adjectives that can be used to describe our journey to succeeding both in athletics and in our life… We have to recognize our talents, have a gameplan, dedication and endurance to accomplish our goals – And in this case it's to find a job. So, when you find yourself re-crafting your resume for the 100th time or sending out your resume to another recruiter or sending out a thank you note for an interview that you weren't 100% confident about (remember not to be too hard on yourself) or lastly freely posting your resume to every job board that has .com at the end J (which I don't recommend doing) … Remember to stay positive and focused! The same way you would prepare for your game should be the same way that you prepare for your job search.
So, before frustration sets in start thinking about what type of gameplan you currently have in place and if you don't have one begin thinking about the types of jobs you want to apply for (they might have to do with your major or they might not) The main point is that you START to take ACTION. "You can't make a basket that you don't take."
It might seem overwhelming but your anxiety can be minimized by developing a gameplan that will enable you to endure your job search when you might feel like giving up all together.
1. Write your resume – Even if you think you don't have work experience you do! As an athlete there are so many transferable skills that you can carry over into the workplace! You can list your volunteer experiences, athletic accomplishments/honors, clubs and organizations and any summer employment and or internships experience that you have.
2. Do your research – Choose the top 10 companies that you want to work for and reach out to the recruiting department by email and or by phone. Many of the top companies have separate websites for internships and new college graduates. Your ability to narrow down your top fields and positions within those fields will make your life a lot easier in the long run. Hoovers – www.hoovers.com is a good place to start to learn more about a particular company and background info and it's FREE!
3. Reach out – Find out where the Career services building is J - It's so hard with practices and weightlifting to want to think about Career Services but it's essential. Another avenue is reaching out to your Universities or Colleges Alumni and Athletic network. Developing professional relationships within your university both in the athletic arena and the traditional alumni network is vital in your ability to position yourself in a positive way upon graduation.
So, start EARLY… Let people know what you are interested in so when something comes across their desk, email inbox, etc. you are the first person they think of. I compare it my position as a post player (especially in the early days.) If you've been on the block with a wide stance, waving your arms like a crazy person maybe its time to get off the block, re-position yourself/Get Moving J and yell a little louder for the ball so your teammates know that you are open. The same confidence and determination that you exude in athletics can be applied in your job search strategy.
And finally, if you made it to the end of this post you have the commitment that is necessary to embark on the journey of your job search.
Until the next time… Take care of yourself and stay positive! There are plenty of people who are in the same place that you are in you just have to get organized, know what you like and above all else Speak Up - the same way you would if you were in competition against your opponent!
Welcome to AthletesWork... I'm so excited that the time is finally here that I can connect with a group of individuals that have accomplished so much in sports and in life and are ready to take on the job market with the same determination, winning attitude and enthusiasm that you demonstrated in practice and during your conference games.
AthletesWork is more than a url or a catchy name. It's a destination that most athletes will reach before they ever thought they would. And it has been a passion of mine that organically took shape around my junior year as a collegiate student-athlete. When I realized that I couldn't play for ever (and at the time I didn't really want to) I was a little burnt out to tell you the truth...
AthletesWork in it's infancy was once a physical destination that my teammates and friends would come to get advice on career paths, resume writing and sometimes to talk about how we were going to make it through another two a day practice session, study for a final exam and still have a life :)
My passion for education has stemmed from my mom and dads commitment to the field of education and their love for helping people. So, it was only natural that my path would cross with education and helping people. After completing my bachelors, it was the first time I wasn't referred to as a student-athlete. I really didn't know what to do, who to talk or where to go to find information about entry level career opportunities, internships or job shadowing experiences that I could take advantage of.
I was for certain that there were many transferable skills that I could carry over into the workplace such as leadership skills, teambuilding and time management just to name few. I also knew that there were many other athletes out there who had similar skills that employers are looking for in their new hires but didn't know how to reach this particular group.
AthletesWork is a destination that you should visit often, it's a place where you can prepare for your career after sports, connect with former collegiate student-athletes and explore opportunities in various fields from internships to full-time positions.
Thank you for visiting and come back soon!