How to Choose Among Career Services That Sound Similar

Understanding exact capabilities and knowing what questions to ask

Selecting a firm to help advance your career is an important decision. The field includes firms ranging from career and outplacement counselors to various types of marketing companies. When they speak of their capabilities, some might give you the impression that they do the same things we do.

This is one reason we go to great lengths to educate you with our videos, literature and high-content website. We want you to fully understand what we can do for you and our specific guarantees. While we have a close personal relationship with clients, we are far more than an advisory service. We do most of the hard work of job hunting for you, including all of the writing… supplying the openings you need… the contacts you need… and the leads you need. We also distribute your credentials… and do much more. If you are choosing a career service, this guide will make sure you ask the right questions.

1—How will they collect your background information?

If you’re told to write everything out longhand… be concerned. The most comprehensive way to gather everything that’s critical about you… is to do it through a highly structured series of online forms supplemented by personal discussions. This allows several staff members to review the information... and it gives you a valuable document for permanent reference.

The specific online profiles we use include n Our marketability profile; n Our career history profile; and n Our industry characteristics profile. Together they give us the information we need to get started on a personalized marketing plan for you, as well as all the resumes and letters we write.

2—Will they help with what needs to be done… before you start a search?

· Your career / industry options should be identified.

· The goals you should pursue need to be clarified.

· Solutions for liabilities must be provided.

· The specific transferable skills you should market need to be pinpointed.

· A weekly campaign action plan to guide your search should be provided.

Too often counseling firms will claim to address these issues, but they do so only with a broad brush. These are all critical to the speed and effectiveness of your search. They need to be addressed with specificity and clarity. And, some of these items should be provided to you in writing. We will provide you with a personal marketing plan. As part of it, we review your career and industry options and recommend goals. And, we supply your solutions for liabilities, pinpoint your transferable skills and give you a customized weekly action agenda… all in writing.

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