The Top 22 Career Turning Points and What We Do It is normal to have important career questions. We have custom answers to least 22 very common ones you may be grappling with by yourself right now. As a career analyst, Mary-Frances has the expertise, impartiality and savvy to show you how to navigate any career situation. Unlike a recruiter, we work for you. We cover your career life cycle from graduation to mid-career, to retirement, including self employment. Find your current career turning point here and see the Work Creatively service designed to help you win. Career Management: the Best of Counselling and Coaching Our career management consulting is a confidential, 1:1* partnership. Our approach combines career/general counselling and career/executive coaching approaches, because in our experience, taking charge of your career requires us to provide you both kinds of assistance. Our work is supportive of you, and will challenge your assumptions – replacing limiting ideas with up to date and effective ones for you. Your business sense and knowledge of careers and yourself always increase in the process. You also get a permanent business ‘life skill’ to take away. Career Counselling includes extensive information and advice on your career self, your markets, and on “what really works” in dealing with your situation, such as the most effective job search techniques or one of the 20+ other situations we’ve listed. In Career Coaching mode, we ask questions so that you determine what you want, rather than offer information. We then develop action steps, and make an agreement that you will do it. By that agreement, we then follow up at regular intervals to ensure you accomplish what you wanted. We format a process with you that includes in-person, telephone and email-based consulting. We are evolving to more technology enabled service delivery all the time, but there are no real substitutes for personal meetings, especially at first. Appointments are available 8 - 6 at our office in Toronto’s Financial district, with occasional evening times. * In addition to individuals, private groups such as a work unit are also welcome – call to discuss organizing workshops for up to 10 people at a time. Let’s take a look at your situation and our services: In my career I would really like to know how to do the following: Know what I can or should do as a career Where Your Bliss Meets the Market:Assessment of your career motivations, interests, expertise and goals and the best career options for you. Change or adjust my career path to something that is more 'me' Career Customization:Assessment of your needs, strengths, unique distinctions and best options for a new direction reflecting your expertise and passion Know how to start or grow this career Career Plan:Your personal career 'business plan', and coaching to implement it Know what to do after being downsized or fired 21st Century Outplacement©: Get your bearings via expert advice, direct your feelings constructively, define the most direct route to a suitable new job and use time efficiently. Know the best ways to market myself When Job Hunting is Your Job: Realistic personal job search strategy and schedule Get ahead of the competition Career Door-Openers: Tutoring in proactive self-marketing methods (appropriate to your personality and industry) Be able to clearly explain why an employer should choose me Tell Me About Yourself: A compelling set of talking points explaining your top 5 benefits and strategic advantage Be relaxed and professional when approaching people Make an Impact: Scripts you can use to introduce yourself and position your distinctness (for voicemail, phone conversations, meetings, and in interviews) Build a better network FAST Proactive Marketing Letters: Competition-beating, 'narrowcast' targeted decision maker letter training and template Get my cover letters into the YES pile Killer Cover Letters: Ad response cover letters training and custom template Know how to use recruiters the right way Head hunters 101: Recruiter cover letter training and template and instruction on the do's and don'ts of using recruiters Make the value of my achievements clear in a strong resume Professional Resumes: A top notch results-based resume that truly reflects your business value. Clients say they were never able to capture their strengths this well when writing a resume on their own. Know what to do about being perceived as too: old / young / overqualified / inexperienced / computer-challenged / new to Canada Proven Strategies to Counter Limitations: Acquire the HR facts, marketing know-how and personal support to get beyond any potential negatives. Know I've done well in my next interview Out of the Palm of Your Hand: Interview planning and practice sessions so you connect to employers' needs and comfortably communicate your key benefits Get paid what I'm worth Salary Negotiation: Tutoring and coaching in an end-to-end method that identifies and proves your worth, from your resume until final interview Position myself for promotion in my company Personal Competitive Advantage©: Consulting to identify you as a business solution, build a 1-page information piece for presentation to management and internal networking use, and plan/practice name recognition building within your organization and your field Keep this great job but get my life back! Enhanced Lifestyle Planner© and coaching: Life balance plan and coaching to find time for the other things you love to do Get relief from this thing with my boss/employee/company - it's driving me crazy! Conversations You Can’t Have at Work©: With a career analyst/therapist, determine your best options to solve workplace interpersonal problems or career crises Find out why I'm unhappy in my job and what to do about it. We Listen! We have consulted to over 1,000 individuals and dissolved roadblocks to career satisfaction and success. Work on contract or start my own business, FT or PT. Self-management and Entrepreneurship Coaching: Build, test and launch a personal career/business plan that saves time and errors, attracts customers and maximizes earnings. Consider 'early retirement' at 50+ and do things I've put off for years. Retirement Never Looked Like This©: Assessment, planning and coaching to design a fulfilling post-corporate life with the work and play you enjoy Know an expert I can talk to about any aspect of my career Ongoing professional partner to advise and support you in implementing your next step Make better career decisions sooner, with a sounding board who knows you Ask yourself, What would you like to be different in your work life within 3 months? 6 months? Year? Which career management service(s) could make the most difference to your career success? Take the First Step Call or email Mary-Frances to schedule an initial meeting to discuss what you'd like to do with your career and how custom Work Creatively consulting and coaching can help. Private Coaching