“40-Somethings” are the hot ticket for recruitment relocation according to Kennedy Recruiting Trend. “The primary targets for corporate relocations were the ‘30-somethings’ looking for career advancement. Nowadays, companies are asking the ‘40-somethings’ and seasoned veterans to relocate for the good of the company – a movement paralleling another workplace trend – the demand for higher skilled workers.”

For years I have been hearing about the War For Talent. Sainsbury’s has announced that it wants to take on 10,000 new people at its stores across the UK - but all applicants must be over 50. “Workers in this age bracket will help give customers a “quality, hassle-free festive shopping experience”, the retailer said.

The Los Angeles Times wrote that Home Depot will not divulge complete statistics on how many older workers stride the concrete floors of its huge home-improvement stores, but the number is on the rise. The company hooked up with AARP four years ago to woo a sales force that might otherwise be golfing and says it now has 5,000 employees over 70.

“They are loyal and dependable,” said Tim Crow, chief human resources officer for the Atlanta-based firm. “We look at the demographics, and everyone is getting older. This is the future workforce.”

The U.S. Department of Labor writes that, “Older Americans are staying in the labor force longer than prior trends would have predicted and many change jobs later in life. These job transitions are often within the same occupation or across occupations within wage-and-salary employment. The transition can also be out of wage-and-salary work and into self employment. Indeed, national statistics show that self employment becomes more prevalent with age, partly because self employment provides older workers with opportunities not found in traditional wage-and-salary jobs, such as flexibility in hours worked and independence.”

I’m passionate about people enjoying Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon. 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.

You are invited to schedule a 20-minute complimentary coaching session with me and then 5-10 minutes for both of us to determine whether or not career coaching is what would best meet your goals. If at any point during the last 5-10 minutes you or I decide career coaching would not be a good fit, I’ll let you know and I’d value you letting me know since both of our time is valuable!

For more information, go to my website at Summit View Career Coaching.

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!

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!

The term ’slasher’ is new to me! First of all, what is a slasher? Marci Alboher, author of One Person/Multiple Careers: A New Model for Work/Life Success, and also the freelance journalist/speaker/coach who coined the term, “slash-career,” says it’s someone who moves between two or more careers and professional identities at the same time, somehow making it work.

Who is slashing?

• Lianne Raymond, a high school teacher/librarian and yoga instructor in Courtenay, B.C., discovered she coaches teachers at school and decided to run her own life coaching business. “I’m the kind of person who can’t stand doing the same thing over and over again. I get bored really easily. I need novelty,” she says. So this year she taught one semester and took the second semester off to focus on starting the coaching gig.

• One gentleman, an owner of the swank Four Seasons Restaurant in New York, is also a dedicated yoga instructor. “People from the yoga world have no idea about his other identity,” she says.

• John Lyons, who calls himself a wedding photographer/graphic designer/business owner/husband/dad in Chatham, Ont. Says, ‘,”I’ve diversified my own income,” says John Lyons working about 40 hours a week for his design company, Bulldog Design, and at least another 20 on the wedding photography side. Saturdays are 12-hour days and then there’s usually 10 to 12 hours of photo processing work in the evenings.
  

But all this suits Mr. Lyons just fine. Both businesses are lucrative, generally pulling in matching profits. His typical bride drops about $6,000 on wedding shots and Mr. Lyons shoots at least 20 weekends a year.

According to Kira Vermond in her article about slashing, who wrote about the above examples and also shared, “Demographically speaking, baby boomers make up a large portion of employees turning hobbies into work. Knowing retirement is on the horizon and wanting to be ready, they’re launching the less taxing sideline work in preparation for the big leap away from the office. Until then, they’ll keep two balls in the air. “

If you’re a slasher, how is it working, or maybe not working for you?

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 or email me at terri@summmitviewcareercoaching.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 have been writing a weekly blog for both this webpage and the Record Eagle since November, 2007. I’ve been told by readers that they have held valuable and interesting information.

Well, tonight I found out that because I was using the same blog in the Record Eagle as in this blog, I was actually hurting my ranking in the Search Engine Optimization (meaning Summit View Career Coaching didn’t come up on the first or second page when a person blogged ‘Career Coach’ like it used to). So, tonight I quickly and sadly deleted all of my blogs on this webpage that were written since November ‘07. If you would like to see the past 6 months of a variety of valuable and free informative blogs, go to Ask the Career Coach - Record Eagle’s blogs.

Thank you for reading my blogs! Would love to hear any comments or questions you may have! Please email me at Terri@SummitViewCareerCoaching.com.

Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!

Welcome to the Careers Blog. I am Terri Ferrara, a Career Coach that is passionate about helping people enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon! I derive great pleasure in helping people understand who they are, the unique value they have to offer an employer and the steps in communicating that value to a current or potential employer so that a person targets and is offered a position that fits them well!

What questions do you have about career transition, networking, branding, resumes, interview preparation, jump-starting a new position or maximizing your current position?  I’d love to hear questions from you if you are thinking about a career/job transition, high school/college students searching for direction, retirees wanting to pursue a dream that has been put on their back burner and those returning back to work. Your identity will be kept confidential. This column will be a Q&A forum, so your questions are welcomed!

I have some questions for you. What dream is on your back burner? What kind of work is like play to you? What are you passionate about? Imagine all of us using our unique strengths and loving what we do (at least 90% of the time) in our career! We’d be so much happier, less stressed out, healthier, more productive…

Enjoy Monday morning as much as Friday afternoon!

For more information on Terri and Summit View Career Coaching or for a complimentary, confidential consultation, please contact her online at  www.summitviewcareercoaching. 

As a member of the Career Management Alliance, I receive some of the latest information that comes out. Today we were informed that AARP just released its selection of the top 50 from a list of 115 companies that embrace older workers.

Some reasons for top picks include company policies and practices for workers over 50, range of flexible work arrangements, available health benefits, number of senior employees in the total company workforce, alternative work arrangements, seasonal work programs, telecommuting, lifelong learning, financial benefits, on-site medical centers, retirement plans, job rotation, temporary work in other departments, and more. Top on the list for boomers is flexible work arrangements, since many of them care either for their grandchildren or for their aging parents.

1. SC Johnson, Racine, WI
2.  Mercy Heath Systems, Janesville, WI
3. First Horizon National Corporation, Memphis, TN
4.  Scripps Health, San Diego, CA
5.  Stanley Consultants, Muscatine, IA
6.  Lee Memorial Health Systems, Fort Meyers, FL
7.  Leesburg Regional Medical Center and The Villages Regional Hospital, Leesburg, VA
8.  George Mason University, Fairfax, VA
9. Principal Financial Group, Des Moines, IA
10. Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA

A Career Coach can give a person successful tools and guidance so that their career aligns well with their personality and strengths. If you or someone you know would like a complimentary initial consultation, contact us at Summit View Career Coaching.

I found it really interesting that “dozens of colleges and universities are offering career-counseling services not only to recent graduates but also to thousands of alumni, including some former students who completed their degrees a decade ago or more,” writes Justin Pope.

For years colleges and universities have offered career-counseling services. Pope goes on to say, “But only in recent years have a significant number begun devoting staff members solely to alumni. One reason: Increasing job turnover in many professions has more former students looking for personalized advice. Still, the number of schools with full-time staff for alumni remains small. One reason is that colleges are supposed to serve students first, prompting some debate about how such programs should be funded.”

If you are thinking about a career transition, you may want to check out if the college or university you graduated from offers complimentary services to alumni! If you know of someone who isn’t being offered complimentary services where they graduated and would like to have some advice through a complimentary initial consultation with a professional Career Coach, please share with him or her about Summit View Career Coaching.