Yes You Do Need a Career Portfolio!

 Career Portfolio:  What is it?  What's in it?

 

Often times, job searching can be a tedious task and many of us don't know how to properly prepare.  I have been there.  I was a college graduate, had just moved back to my home town and needed work.  Most of the people in my family don't have college degrees so my options as to who I could turn to were limited.  

With my back against the wall, I researched and found out what employers in my field were looking for.  I read through hundreds of job descriptions in order to create this really good resume.  I started sending my resume out, and almost immediately, I began getting calls for interviews.  I would go to these interviews and the interviewer would ask me the standard interview questions, but then they asked for certain documentation that I did not have with me at the time.  That's when I decided that, once I found all those documents, I was going to keep them in a safe and ready place and start taking them with me to my interviews.  I did not want any reasons for them to say we will call you.  I wanted to have everything that I needed for them to hire me right then.  And that is why you need a Career Portfolio.  It will help you organize your career information and documents and you will have all the information that a company needs to hire you on the spot.  YES! Eliminate the wait time it will take you to find the documents, submit them to the employer and wait for them to "call you back

So now you know WHY you need a career portfolio, you may be wondering "well what in the world is a career portfolio?"  Don't worry, I have been there too! Back when I was starting out, I had to research EVERYTHING for myself.  There were no coaches to help me.  Which is one of the reasons that I am so passionate about what I do.  Okay now back to the career portfolio.  A career portfolio is a collection of documents to support what your resume claims.  Anybody can create an elaborate resume and list tons of accomplishments, accolades, skills and certifications.  But can they back it up?  That is what your career portfolio does.  It backs up your claims of your education, accomplishments, activities and experiences that your resume outlines.  

Last question you may be wondering is "what exactly goes in my portfolio?"  I am glad you asked!  Here is a list of documents that you want to include in your career portfolio:

• Title Page (with your name and contact information)
• Table of Contents (to help the reader navigate through your portfolio with ease)
• Personal Mission Statement (tells who you are as a person, expanded career objective)
• Cover Letter (optional)
• Resume (error free)
• References (3 professional and 3 personal)
• Degree/Certificate
• Professional Development and Training Certificates 
• Awards and Accomplishments 
• Volunteer Work
• Professional Affiliations (nothing based religious or political views)
• Work Samples (if applicable)
• Statement of Originality (portfolio is your original work and cannot be copied)

 Make sure that you don't use your original documents in your portfolio because the employer may ask to keep it.  Use high quality copies.  If you don't have access to a laser copier or printer, your local WorkSource will allow you to print and make copies.  

 

Your portfolio may be very thin as you begin your career.  Don't worry about that.  Over time, you will be able to see it grow as you being your career and start accomplishing goals! 
 

If you need help creating your professional portfolio, contact me to schedule your free strategy session!  And as always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com and your answer may be in the next blog! 

 

 

 

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Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

20 Affirmations to Speak Daily

Spend 5 minutes at the beginning of each day slowly saying these affirmations.  We attract what we speak.  Speak and receive what is rightfully yours...peace, love, success, joy, prosperity and everything else!
  
1.   I am grateful to be alive.
2.   I am giving my attention to what really matters
3.   I choose to be an humble servant of God.
4.   I am feeling and overwhelming sense of gratitude.
5.   My natural state of feeling is joy.
6.   God will give me everything that I desire.
7.   I enjoy being present and living in the present.
8.   I love and appreciate myself.
9.   I practice living in prosperity daily.
10. I am able to give and receive love effortlessly.
11. I choose to live the life of my dreams.
12. I take inspired action on my intuitions.
13. My heart is overflowing with perpetual bliss.
14. I am down to earth, humble and divinely connected.
15. I tap into my creative flow daily.
16. My will is aligned with God's will.
17. I am persistent and patient.
18. I find harmony and peace in all situations in my life.
19. The spirit of God and energy of the universe is in me.
20. I am living in accordance to my higher purpose. 

If you need help finding balance to create harmony in your life, contact me to schedule your free strategy session!  And as always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com and your answer may be in the next blog! 

 

 

 

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Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

How Well Do you Maintain Balance?

Take this short quiz and find out!

If trying to maintain balance in your life makes you feel like a tightrope walker, you're not alone.  Most of us have so many demands on our time and energy, life can feel like a three-ring circus!  Take this quiz to see how well you are meeting responsibilities, while also recognizing and fulfilling personal needs and wants. 

True or False

  

T  or  F    The only way I can successfully manage my life is to take care of myself    

                physically and emotionally.

 

T  or  F    Nurturing myself enlarges my capacity to help others.

T  or  F    I eat healthy and exercise regularly.

T  or  F    I get check-ups, go to the dentist, and take preventative precautions.

T  or  F    I set aside personal, quiet time for myself, whether I'm meditating or simply 

                letting my thoughts drift.

T  or  F    I experience the gifts of each season: ice skating, sledding, beach walks, 

                gardening, hiking, camping, time outside, etc.

T  or  F   Creativity nurtures me.  I do what I love, whether it's cooking , drawing, painting, 

               writing, dancing, singing or another creative pursuit.

T  or  F   Reaching out to others enriches my life.  I spend quality time with family and 

               friends.

T  or  F   Contributing to the world provides connection and purpose, so I give my time, 

               energy and experience where it is most useful.

T  or  F   I notice and heed the emotional signals that tell me I am out of balance: irritability, 

               overwhelm, resentment, etc.

T  or  F    If I feel that I'm catching a cold, I realize that I may have stressed immune system 

                with over activity, so I stop and take care of myself.

T  or  F    When I need or want to, I say no to requests for my time.

T  or  F    I listen to and honor the requests my body makes for things such as a nap, a 

                walk, green vegetables, exercise, etc.

T  or  F    If I have something planned for myself, I don't toss it aside when someone makes 

                a request of me.

T  or  F    I am busy but I find time to do the things I want to do.

 

T  or  F    I am happy.  I regularly experience well-being, contentment and joy.

     

If you answered false more often than true, you may want to take a look at the questions to which you answered false and see if you can incorporate something its message into your life.  Email or call if you would like to explore this further in a free coaching session.  

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com and your answer may be in the next blog! 

 

 

 

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Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

Why I Don't Hate Mondays

    

For a long time, I used to hate to see the weekend leave and the new workweek begin.  I absolutely hated Mondays! There was nothing in this world worse than a Monday morning.  On Sunday night, my dread would start.  I would begin thinking about the following day and almost start to have an anxiety attack.  But one Monday a few years back, something came over me and I had a mindset change.  It was 6 am and I was getting dressed for work.  I had a long mental list of things that I had to do that day.  As I thought about the list, I realized that it was unrealistic.  As a matter of fact, it was downright stupid.  The things on that list could not have been completed by Superwoman in one day.  I was setting myself up for failure and disappointment.  That moment, changed my life.  It was truly an epiphany!

The moment I realized that  I am not Superwoman but I am human, things changed.  I now looked at Mondays different.  I wrote down my mental list so that I see it.  Writing it down helped me to see that it really was too much to do in one day.  That is when Monday became my planning day.  I now take Monday as my day to plan for my week.  Instead of dreading all that I have to do on Monday, I know look forward to planning what I have to do. 

When planning, I take the time to make 3 lists, Work, Home, and Personal.  On the work list, I write ideas that have brewed over the weekend and how I can bring them to life, clients that I have to meet with during the week and any jobs that need to be completed during the week.  The home list includes:  meals for the week, chores that need to be completed and any family activities that are scheduled for the week.  My personal list is just that, personal.  It lists the things that  I need to do for myself.

Once I have completed my lists, I take out my calendar and put everything on the calendar.  I give every task a date and every appointment or activity a time. This allows me to have my week at a glance and not feel overwhelmed by Monday and trying to get things done in one day.  Planning is critical in almost every aspect of our lives.  We need guidance and a plan is just that.  It helps us get from one place to another and in this case, it helps us get from Monday to Friday! 

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com and your answer may be in the next blog! 

 

 

 

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Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

What Else Do I Need to Get a Loan?

Completing your business plan is just the start to seeking financing for your business.  Your complete business plan lays out:

• What your business is/does
• What service or product you offer
• How much you will charge for your service or product
• How much money you will make from your service or product
• How much money you will need to start up so that you can put your plan into action

If you are anything like me, you think or thought "now that my business plan is complete, I am ready to submit it to banks and get a loan."  This is what most new business owners tend to think..  Unfortunately, it is not that easy to get funding.  If it were, every small business owner would be running to the bank for a loan.  Along with a solid business plan and loan application, you must have other things.  The bank is a business and they will not buy into a (your) dream with the "hope" that you will make money and be able to pay them back, therefore your business plan alone will not get you funding.  The three major things, in addition to your business plan, that the banks look at are: personal creditworthiness, collateral and presentation.

 

Personal Creditworthiness

Aside from your business plan, banks and investors look at your personal creditworthiness before deciding to lend you money.  Yes, your own credit plays a huge part in a bank approving or denying you a loan!  If you can't manage your personal finances, how will you be able to manage business finances?  When applying for a loan, having good to excellent personal credit is important.  If you are looking to get a bank loan to start your business and your credit is not what it should be, work on cleaning up your credit before applying for a loan. 

 

Collateral

When asking for financial help to start your business, collateral is important.  Nobody will give money to someone who has nothing to lose.  Most banks require you to make some type of investment into your own business.  Putting valuable equipment, land or real estate that you may own up for collateral shows a lending institution that you believe in your business enough that you are willing to invest your personal assets.  In reality, it makes sense.  Are you willing to loan someone money who may or may not have the means to pay you back?  Would you be more willing to loan that same person money if they gave you the title to their car until they paid you back?  It is easier to loan money to someone who has a vested interest in the loan as opposed to someone who has nothing invested.

 

Presentation

Presentation is EVERYTHING!  I am sure that you have heard this many times before.  Well, it is true!  People believe what they see.  If you want your business, business plan and loan application to be taken serious, then you have to present all three in a professional manner.  Make sure that when you are submitting any documents, that they are legible, neat and clean.  Your business plan should be printed on high quality paper and professionally bound.  If you hire a service to complete your business plan, make sure that it will be delivered to you in this manner.  Lastly, when you go into the bank to handle any type of business, but namely requesting and/or submitting your loan application, make sure that YOU look the part!  Your are a reflection of your business and your business is a reflection of you.  Be dressed appropriately and professionally. 

 

Aside from a well written business plan, we have to remember that potential investors, banks and other lending institutions are looking at us.  We ARE our business so we have to make sure that we are in order not only professionally but personally.

 

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com and your answer may be in the next blog!

 

 

 

 

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Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

What Bankers Look for in a Business Plan

Starting a business can be one of the scariest things to do.  There are many things to consider before starting a business.  One of the main things that you will need is a business plan.  The business plan is the road map for your business.  It is the document that outlines your business, your services or product and what you expect your business to do financially.  If done properly, your business plan is the lifeline of your business and the start of your road to success. 

 

It is easy to go online and get a business plan template, but it is better to hire a professional to write your business plan.  They know exactly what investors and financial institutions look for in a business plan.  No one is going to give you money because they believe in you or your great idea.  They give money based on if your business will be viable and profitable.

 

After years of writing plans for businesses seeking bank and investor funding, here is a list of what I have found that the banks actually look for in your business plan.

 

1.  Show them a complete plan.  There is nothing worse than wasting an investor or bankers time with an incomplete plan.  It shows poor planning and lack of commitment on your part so why would they lend you any money?  Make sure that your business plan has all the sections of at least a basic business plan.  This is one of the reasons that it may be better to have a professional do the writing for you as they will make sure that everything that needs to be covered is present in your business plan.

 

2.   Show them a realistic plan.  You can't teach a CPA how to count.  Meaning the people who are reviewing your business plan and/or loan application are very familiar with financials.  They have experience in knowing what numbers are inflated or deflated.  Make sure that when you do your financials, you are using realistic numbers and asking only for what you need.  Don't try to get rich off of your business loan.  Also make sure that the numbers in your financials are indicative of industry standards.  Don't pad numbers or profit margins to unrealistic numbers that far exceed existing businesses in your same industry.

 

3.  Show them your business background.  Make sure to include information about your experience and business background in your business plan.  Investors want to know that they are potentially lending money to someone who has business knowledge and experience in the industry for which they are starting a business.  For example, no one is going to give a hairstylist money to start a daycare, but that stylist could get money to start a beauty school because of her experience in the related field. If you have business partners or a management team, make sure that they have experience in the business that you are starting and make sure to include their background information in the business plan.

 

4.  Show them the money.  When reviewing your business plans, investors want to see your financial statements.  They want to see your income statement, balance sheet and cash flow.  They want to see this financial information projected for at least three years but five is suggested.  The reason that five years is suggested is because most successful businesses don't start to see significant profit until after the first five years.

 

If you need help with your business plan, don't hesitate to contact Kimestry Koaching! We offer a free initial strategy session to help you get started in getting your business organized and more profitable.

 

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com. 

 

 

 

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Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

Saving Time IS Saving Money!

 

 

As business owners, we often have a lot on our plates.  Some of us are not only business owners, but we are parents and spouses among other things.  We have many roles that we take on and each of these roles has its own list of medial tasks.  And guess what? It takes time to do each task!  But how much time does it take?  Think of your daily schedule.  As an entrepreneur, we usually don't work a set schedule.  We work as needed, often more than eight hours a day.  We may work for 16-18 hours a day if we include our business and the tasks of our other roles.  If you offer a service or product, how much is one hour of your time worth?  On the low end, I can valuate an hour of my time at $75.  As a person who works from home, I used to think that I was saving money by doing everything myself.  Then I realized that in doing everything myself, I was  wearing myself out and not having the energy to do the major things that I needed to do in order to make money.  So in a sense, I was losing money. 

 

Yes my house was clean, the laundry was done, that database was created and emails were sent out, but I was dog tired and struggling to complete jobs.  I was NOT using my time and resources wisely.  I had to change my thinking (and my husband's thinking- he always said that he was not going to pay someone to do something that he could do himself).  So when I look at chores around my house or administrative tasks that can be time consuming, I have to decide if I would rather be working and earning at least $75 per hour or if I would rather outsource the job.  If my time is worth $75 per hour and it takes 3 hours to clean my house, I have just missed out on $225.  However, if I paid a cleaning service to clean my house (they charge $85 for regular customers), I actually net $140 for that same 3 hours that I would have spent cleaning.  Outsourcing the job and being able to work with a clear mind and not be tired actually allowed me to still make money and get the chore done.  This is just one example of outsourcing. 

 

Take a look at your daily schedule and see where you can be working and earning money as opposed to completing tiresome tasks.  Don't be afraid to outsource or pay a fee for someone else to complete those smaller tasks for you so that you can focus on the bigger (money-making) things that need to be done.  If you need help getting started, don't hesitate to contact Kimestry Koaching! We offer a free initial strategy session to help you get started in getting your business organized and more profitable.

 

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com. 

 

 

 

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Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

How to STAY Motivated

 

 

 

Something or someone lights a fire under our feet and we start running.  We run and we run! And then what?  We get tired and we stop running, often before we reach our destination.  If you are anything like me, you have experienced this.  Finding the motivation and starting something is the easy part.  Maintaining momentum and staying motivated is the hardest part of completing a task.  What I have found very helpful is to plan, prepare and execute.  Using these 3 steps will allow you to not only get on the right track to reach a goal, but it will allow you to know where to get back on track if you fall off.  

 

1.  Plan.  This is a very important part of staying motivated.  Planning means to write down on paper exactly what we want to accomplish and the steps that we need to take to accomplish it.  This step is the most crucial of all the steps because without proper planning, the other steps will not be effective.  During the planning phase, we must identify a single, specific goal.  If we have multiple goals, they should be planned individually.  Grouping goals together makes it harder to plan and even harder to see accomplishment. 

 

2.  Prepare.  In order to take action, we must prepare for action.  Sometimes in order to execute our plan, we have to "get things together."  This might mean gathering the physical supplies or materials to complete the task or it can be mental preparation.  Getting our minds ready to do the work needed to complete the task and reach our goal. Either way, preparing for the journey makes the journey that much easier.

 

3.  Execute.  This is where we put our plan into action.  If we properly planned, we can now "check" items off of our list as we execute the plan.  Checking off items on our planning list gives us a sense of accomplishment.  This is the fuel that allows us to keep our motivation.  We watch our planning list shrink as we get closer to accomplishing or goal.

 

Using the Plan, Prepare, Execute method is very effective for reaching a goal.  It helps us to not only identify a goal and lay out steps to achieve that goal, seeing our goal get closer and closer is exactly what we need to help us stay motivated to reach the goal!

 

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com. 

 

 

 

Power and success in 2014 and beyond!

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Thriving Thursday: I Determine My Worth

Thriving Thursday:  I Determine My Worth

Throughout life, we often allow others to dictate our paths to us.  We let people tell us who or what we should be when we “grow up.”  We allow people to say or do things that affect our self-esteem.  We allow others judgments and assumptions about us become our own feelings about ourselves. 

We give people too much power over us.  Now is the time to take back that power. YOU determine your worth.  No matter how much you try to explain your circumstance, no one knows your struggles but you and God.  Why do we give people who have not walked in our shoes the power to make us feel a certain way?  STOP!!!! Today is the day that you decide to no longer allow others to determine your worth.  God made each of us very special and in His image.  If we are made in His image and He is perfect, then we are just the way that God wanted us to be.  He molded each one of us from a different set of clay so we all will not fit the same mold.

I know that it is hard to break free from old patterns of thinking but it can be done.  Every day take a look in the mirror and say something that makes you unique. Daily positive affirmations are keys to improving self-esteem and self-concept.

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please feel free to email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com.  All emails are private and identity is kept anonymous.

Love, power and success in 2013 and beyond!

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Working Wednesday: Have a Job Search Plan

Working Wednesday: Have a Job Search Plan

Today, I will outline a weekly plan of action for job searching.  Finding gainful employment is a job within itself and a process that we all must endure while trying to secure employment.  Many people go about job searching the wrong way.  There are certain days of the week that are best for job searching.  Those days are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday.  Many employers are trying to start out their work week and get their week organized on Mondays and are closing out their week on Fridays.  These are not “good times” to contact employers.  Contacting them during these times is a guaranteed way to get your resume or application ignored or lost.  Here is a job search program that is focused on Tuesday through Thursday of each week. 

Tuesday

The local newspaper usually prints out the job ads on Sunday.  On Monday, take this time to go through the newspaper employment ads or check the newspaper website.  Make a list of the jobs that you would like to apply for.  Include the name of the company, contact information (name, phone/fax number), and job position.  Submit your resume or apply for all the jobs that you found in your local paper from Sunday.  You can also check job boards and other websites dedicated to job searching.  Make sure to log these jobs on your Job Search Log which is available to you for free.  Simply email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com and put Job Search Log in the subject line and one will be emailed to you within 48 hours. 

Wednesday

Check out your local employment center.  Plan on spending at least 4 hours at the center.  There you can meet with an advisor and get job leads matching your specific skill set.  Do not leave without applying for the jobs that the advisor gave you.  These are very good job leads and are current and up to date.  You should also go to specific companies’ websites and apply for job.

Thursday

Follow up! Follow up! Follow up! Take this day to follow up on all resumes that were sent out on Tuesday and Wednesday.  You should have logged your applications on your Job Search Log so contacting employers either via phone or email should be fairly easy.

Even though the other days of the week may not be dedicated to job searching, remember that you are still a viable candidate seeking employment and you may meet potential references or engage in some networking, so keep activities and behaviors appropriate.

Kimestry Koaching offers a job search assistance, resume writing and career coaching.  If you are interested, feel free to email for rate quotes.  As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please feel free to email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com.  All emails are private and identity is kept anonymous.

Love, power and success in 2013 and beyond!

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Tenacious Tuesday: Stop and Think

Tenacious Tuesday:  Stop and Think

Life is full of ups and downs and things that we cannot control.  The one thing that we CAN control is ourselves.  We can control our actions and our reactions.  These two things are really what make a situation bad or good.  If we take the time to stop and think before we do something or react to something, we will often have a better outcome.  It is normal for us to follow our first mind and act on impulse and instinct rather than on facts. 

We have three parts of our personality: the id, ego and superego.  The id is the part of us that wants immediate satisfaction and usually forces us to act on instinct.  The ego is that part of us that is rational and realistic.  The superego is like our conscience and makes us feel bad/wrong about things and cautions us to look at the consequences of our actions.  As we face daily challenges, these three parts of our personality are in constant battle.  Our actions tend to coincide with the part of our personality that “won” the battle.

It is important for us to be able to control ourselves and make better decisions and choices.  We have to stop letting our id take over and control us.  We must take the time to think about our actions along with the consequences of our actions. 

If you take a minute and reflect, how many times have you wished you would have given something a second thought before acting on it?  If you are anything like most people I know, including myself, don’t have to think back that hard.  We can think of recent impromptu decisions that had or have a major effect on us.  Part of endurance is making choices that are conducive to positivity in our lives.  In order to make better choices, we must take the time to STOP and THINK.

Taking a moment to reflect and consider alternative courses of action is a true demonstration of strength, courage and tenacity!

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please feel free to email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com.  All emails are private and identity is kept anonymous.

Love, power and success in 2013 and beyond!

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Motivated Monday: Believe in YOU!

Motivated Monday: Believe in YOU!

"Belief is more important than ability. Without belief we can do little. With the belief that you can do something, the ability will come and you'll be laughing.  Believe people.  Anything truly is possible when we remove the proverbial limits from our mind."

- Mike Woodcroft

Mondays are often a drag.  It is the day that many of us return to work from being off for two days.  It is a day that will set the tone for the rest of the week.  Let’s take today to get motivated to do better this week than we did last week.  Every Monday, I will share with you a motivating quote to help get your week started.

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please feel free to email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com.  All emails are private and identity is kept anonymous.

Love, power and success in 2013 and beyond!

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Thriving Thursday: My Attitude

Have you ever heard the quote “your attitude determines your attitude?”   Well it is very true if you understand what it means.  It simply says that your outlook, approach, demeanor, and interaction with others can determine how far you will go in life.  Why is this so important?  It is important because we have become the very person who blocks and keeps us from reaching our full potential.  Our attitude is either making or breaking us.  It is either propelling us into greatness or shackling us into bondage. 

Making a small adjustment to our attitude can make a tremendous difference in the quality of life that we experience.  Many of our attitudes can be attributed to negative things, people and experiences in our lives.  We tend to hold on to those negative thoughts and allow them to manifest in our attitudes.  In order to experience a greater quality of life, it is imperative that we let go of the negative associations.  We must stop being angry, bitter, jealous, hateful, mad and any other negative feeling that we are holding on to.

We cannot expect to live a positive and fulfilling life if we are holding on to so many negative things.  If your hand is closed due to holding on to something that is not good for you, it cannot receive what IS good for you.  Your hand cannot be open and closed at the same time.  Today choose to open your hand and let go of all the emotional baggage that you have been carrying around weighing you down.  Choose to be happy.  Choose a more abundant life.  Choose freedom.  Choose your new attitude and watch yourself propel to the next level of your life.

As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please feel free to email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com.  All emails are private and identity is kept anonymous.

Love, power and success in 2013 and beyond!

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Working Wednesday: The Resume

Finding a job or changing careers is one of the hardest things to do.  The job market is extremely competitive.  Everyone who is job searching needs a plan.  A job will not come and knock on your door.  A career will not flag you down at the corner.  All things productive must start with a plan of action. 

Every job search starts with a great resume.  A resume is a summary of your education, work history, skills and qualifications that employers use to determine your fit for a particular job.  Your resume should be updated annually whether you are working or not.  There are different types of resumes.  The type of resume that you choose is determined by your experience, education, type of work, background, etc.  No two resumes should look exactly alike.  There are three main types of resumes which are: functional, chronological, and combination.

The functional resume focuses on skills and qualifications for a job.  The chronological resume focuses on work history and positions held.  The combination resume highlights skills and work history.  I strongly recommend that you have one of each type of resume.  Depending on the type of job that you are applying for, will dictate the type of resume that you submit.  If you are applying for a job in a same or similar industry, you would submit a chronological resume that shows that you have a work history in the same or similar capacity.  If you are looking to change industries, but can use acquired skills, you would use a functional resume to focus more on your skills rather than positions or titles held.  The combination resume is good to submit when you need to show work history but also want to highlight your skills.

Having a clean, professional resume that is free of errors is critical. It is the prospective employer’s first impression of you.  A resume will only get about 30 second glance from a hiring manager.  In those 30 seconds, an employer is looking for specific things.  If they don’t see it, the resume gets “filed” away.  Make sure that your resume has what the employers are looking for.

Kimestry Koaching offers a professional resume service and career portfolio package.  If you are interested, feel free to email for rate quotes.  As always, if you have a specific question or topic that you would like addressed, please feel free to email kimestrykoaching@yahoo.com.  All emails are private and identity is kept anonymous.

Love, power and success in 2013 and beyond!

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