In Virginia, I loved reading how the Orange County Chamber of Commerce has joined with Germanna, the Orange County Office of Economic Development and local businesses in promoting an effort to raise money to hire a Career Coach for Orange County High School.

The Career Coach program is a statewide project that places career coaches in high schools. There they can begin working with students as early as ninth grade, testing them and talking to them about their interests and getting to know them over an extended period of time.

Career Coaches focus in on sitting down with the students and asking what their dreams are and what they want to do in life. Whereas, counselors deal with a broad range of issues including behavioral problems.

Students don’t know about career options and how to research them. Career Coaches help the students arrange opportunities to learn first-hand about different industries and organizations. Students go away with valuable information about themselves and careers.

School systems are typically overloaded and short on funding as it is. The local Chamber of Commerce is helping fund a Career Coach program because they see the benefit of career coaching for the whole community.

I would love to help students out in the school first of all know their own core strengths, interests, core values, life purpose, identity and personality type. Next it would be a pleasure to show students how to research industries and organizations that fit well with who they are.

If you or your students would like to have a complimentary 20-minute coaching session, contact Terri@SummitViewCareerCoaching.com. I am passionate about professionals and students enjoying Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!

Are you part of the Boomerang Generation? This generation was born somewhere between 1977 to 1989. Makes sense they’re called the Boomerang Generation because many went off to college, received their degree and are now back living with Mom and Dad while working hard at their profession.

The primary justification for this cycle is economic. Where the young person and parents agree to this arrangement, it provides tremendous financial relief to the young person while it may also provide income to the parents.

Interestingly, Wikopedia states that the arrangement tends to force family members to communicate and negotiate in ways they did not when the children were pre-adults. In the best case, this can lead to healthy adult relationships between parents and children.

Wikopedia also states other positives to having the Boomerang Generation move back home:

Moving back home can benefit parents when they reach old age. In societies where it is common for children to live with their parents into adulthood, such as Asian and Hispanic cultures, children more frequently take care of aging parents, rather than devolving the responsibility on a third party, such as a nursing home.^{[citation needed]} Whether the Boomerang Generation will follow suit remains to be seen, as the older Baby Boom generation ages.

To look at this issue from a different perspective, Michael Rosenfeld, a social demographer at Stanford University says almost 41% of singles ages 20-29 in 2005 were living apart from their parents, compared with 11% in 1950 and about 19% in 1880.

“The boomerang idea,” as quoted by Michael Rosenfled on USA Today, “flatters our parental sense that our adult children need us more than they think. They think they’re going to be independent, but we know they’ll come back to the front doorstep and need us again.”

What are your thoughts on the Boomerang Generation? I’d like to hear them! Write me at Terri@SummitViewCareerCoaching.com

Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon! 

High school students graduate typically without knowing their strengths, interests, life purpose, identity and personality type. Without this knowledge it would be hard to have direction on what careers would fit.

Many students base their direction on what others say they’re good at. Or, a teen may see a career on TV or on YouTube and think it looks interesting. So, they take some classes in that direction. The way I see this uneducated way of deciding on classes is the same as opening the doors to confusion and a waste of money.

What if a student took some time to figure out their strengths, what is ‘play’ to them (not for others!) and what they’re really good at. Also, what if they did a lot of job shadowing and informational interviews with a variety of people to see what it is they are really interested in. There are so many ways to research careers!

Another important part of life is figuring out what one’s identity. Answering who one is and who one wants to be 5, 10, and 20 years from now is a great start.

One other important aspect of figuring out career direction is knowing their personality type. It is an amazingly wonderful aid in accepting oneself and others.

Figuring out and knowing what was talked about in this blog can be extremly helpful in picking out career direction.

If you or a student you know would like to schedule a complimentary 20-minute coaching session, email me at Terri@SummitViewCareerCoaching.com. After the complimentary session, I will ask if the caller would like to consider career coaching. If she or he would prefer not to do so, I’d appreciate knowing since both of our time is valuable.

For more information, see Summit View Career Coaching.

Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!

On Saturday, the 28th, our local newspaper included an article by AP titled Americans: Schools Lacking.

The article says, “Half of Americans say U.S. schools are doing only a fair to poor job preparing kids for college and the workforce. Even more feel that way about the skills kids need to survive as adults, an Associated pres poll released Friday finds.”

When I read this, my thoughts went along the line of Yes, it is the school’s responsibility to prepare kids for college and the workforce, and also it is the parent’s. In fact, I believe it is mostly the parent’s responsibility. Why is that? The teacher has around 25 students whereas the parent’s ratio is much smaller, and the parent has known the child the longest–being able to observe their child’s strengths, interests, and personality type since usually an infant.

Since we know our children will be happiest when they, as adults, are in a career that fits them well, as parents we can present options and opportunities in front of them while they grow up. Some parents say they don’t have the money to afford the opportunities they’d like to offer. There are so many opportunities that are equal in value that are free! This is where creativity comes in.

You might want to read my blog in how to help our children figure out direction. I’d be glad to answer other questions you may have. Ask your question in the comment section or email me at Terri@SummitViewCareerCoaching.com

I’m passionate about people enjoying Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon. I need to let you know that what I do may not be for you. I’ve been very effective in helping many people, but that doesn’t mean I’m a universal solution for everyone.

What I typically like to do is spend 5-10 minutes over the phone where you and I can share some questions and answers to determine if career coaching you is a good fit for both of us.

Packages are offered on career exploration, job search strategy, effective communication, strengths identification, career branding, networking, résumé & cover letter expertise, interview preparation and jump-starting a new position.

For more information, go to my website at summitviewcareercoaching.com.

In the USA, coaching fees are typically tax deductible since they are considered an expense for continuing education undertaken to maintain and improve business and professional skills. (See Treas. Reg.1-162-5. Coughlin vs. Commissioner, 203F 2d 307) Your tax consultant can provide you with further information.

Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!

I was reading an article that really piqued my interest about the success of 640 student internships in Minneapolis through a program in partnership with the city of Minneapolis called “Step Up.” Students aged 16–21 were placed in internships with about 140 metro-area employers.

“Kafiya Ahmed had just turned 16 years old when she started her first internship through Step-Up at public relations firm Weber Shandwick’s Bloomington office. The internship wasn’t just Ahmed’s first experience in an office; it was her first job ever.

‘I always spent my summers doing pretty much nothing,’ she said.

That summer three years ago, the lessons on professional life began with the basics.

‘One of the first things I learned was how to shake someone’s hand properly, which I know sounds trivial but comes in kind of handy,’ Ahmed said, unintentionally making a pun.

Ahmed said she also picked up valuable computer skills and some office communication tips, like how to get the most information while asking the fewest questions.

In the years since, Ahmed, who graduated from Roosevelt High School this spring, has become something of a poster child for the Step-Up program.

Last summer, she earned an internship in Rybak’s office. This summer, she has her own cubicle on the 23rd floor of the US Bank Building Downtown where she is interning for the assistant to US Bancorp CEO Richard Davis, one of the first business leaders to buy into Rybak’s vision for a summer internship program.

‘Kids need some real experience in jobs that reflect their interests,’ said David Brant, Step-Up director. ‘We really give kids an opportunity to explore who they are.’”

What are the benefits for employers?

• While students learn to operate in an office environment alongside adults, their employers learn a thing or two about the work force of the future.
• It is argued that businesses that welcome a diverse workforce will have an edge in the increasingly global marketplace.
• “For many of these kids, they’ve never been in a Downtown office building,” Brant said. “… [Step-Up] opens up a whole lot of doors and [offers them] new ways to look at the world.”

If you have a teenager who is interested in an internship or you are an employer that is interested in providing an internship in the Traverse City, Michigan area, please contact me. I work with students so that they know their strengths, interests and personality traits. Also, I work with companies to identify teenagers that would work well for them. Next, I work with matching students and companies. It is a win-win situation. Please write me if you are interested or if you have any questions.

Stephen Rothberg of CollegeRecruiter.com wrote “Highly respected business business owners agree that career coaching is a wise investment. Scott Testa, CEO of software company Mindbridge, is a fan. Scott says, ‘I think if a candidate believes a job here is important enough that they want to be coached to handle the interview process, they probably take other aspects of their life and career seriously too.’”

Stephen writes that a number of recent graduates and college seniors are turning to Career Coaches. While some argue that these services are unnecessary because they’re typically offered by the student career service offices for free, others share different views. Stephen agrees and so do I that there are student career student offices that give exceptional value while most career service offices are so woefully understaffed that they simply do not have the time to offer services to students who want more than a cursory discussion about their future.

A person typically spends more time involved in their career than in their home life. So, why not invest in a career coach that will help a student find a career and company culture that aligns with strengths, interests, core values, life purpose, identity and personality traits!

To read more from Stephen Rothberg, go to http:www.collegerecruiter.com/weblog/archives/2007/06employer_take_a.php