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Career Guidance

Thinking about switching careers? Browse this directory of career guidance resources and career change opportunities.
Career Search $100K-$375K
We partner with you in your search. Tired of job boards? Call us.
www.CareerChange.com
Changing Jobs
$25-60/hr. Local Jobs Near You. Part-Time Full-Time Start Tomorrow!
JobsLocal.org
Career Change Support
Join Our Free Support Group Free Advice, Discussions, Ideas.
www.DailyStrength.org
Careers
Find Only Six Figure Jobs Search 70,000 Openings
www.TheLadders.com
Make a Career Change
Find a school that offers you the chance to make a career change.
www.CareerExplorer.net
Job Burnout Workshop
Get energized in life & work with 4 day Recharge & Renewal workshop!
www.mariemoran.com
Careers
Search Employment & Jobs in Local Areas. New Job Listings Daily.
www.CareerBuilder.com/Jobs
Changing Careers Guide
How to successfully change careers- a step-by-step guide to help you
www.WetFeet.com
Apply for Jobs Online
Start Your Career Search Now! Find Local Los Angeles Jobs
EmploymentGuide.com/Los_Angeles
Take a Free Career Test
Find Out Which Careers Are Right For You. It Can Change Your Life!
LiveCareer.com
Reinvent Your Career
Executive Career Coaching - Career Transitions/Outplacement
www.DandBconsulting.com
Life Coach - Ned Rios
Embrace the change you really want Become fearless & eliminate stress
www.TranquilityAlive.com
Listings
Being Fired Should Spark Many New Beginnings
Lessons from Joan Lloyd at Work.
www.joanlloyd.com
Career Advantage
Provider of online career planning courses as well as skills and interest assessment.
catalog | tech support
www.careeradvantage.com(Paid)
Career Change Requires Preparation, Reflection
Information from Joan Lloyd & Associates.
www.joanlloyd.com
CIO Job Questions: Don't Ask, Don't Tell
Article by Mark Polansky, from CIO Magazine.
www.magportal.com
Creative Career Change
Information for the process of taking charge of a career.
www.career-design.com
Do Homework on New Career
Article from Joan Lloyd at Work.
www.joanlloyd.com
Do Your Homework Before Jumping to a Higher-Paying Job
Article from Joan Lloyd at Work.
www.joanlloyd.com
Escape From Corporate America - Career Change Advice
Career change advice and resources from career expert Pamela Skillings, whether it's just quitting your job or leaving Corporate America all together.
blog.escapefromcorporate.com(Paid)
Examine Your Reasons for Wanting Lesser Job
Article from Joan Lloyd at Work.
www.joanlloyd.com
How to Decide If It's Time to Look for a New Challenge
Article from Joan Lloyd at Work.
www.joanlloyd.com
How to Stop Hating Mondays Or: How to Look For a Job When You're Working Sixty Hours a Week
Article by Christine Zielger and Steve Sullivan, from careerexperience.com.
www.careerexperience.com
Is Job-Switch Remorse A Growing Trend?
Information on changing jobs, from careerexperience.com.
www.careerexperience.com
Quiet Time at Holidays Can Be the Best Time to Make a Move
Article from Joan Lloyd & Associates.
www.joanlloyd.com
SpencerStuart.com
Information and resources for career transition, provided by global consulting firm specializing in senior-level executive search and board director appointments.
www.spencerstuart.com
Starting A New Career Path
Article by Sue Nowacki and Steve Burt from WorkTree.com.
www.worktree.com
Taking A Salary Cut to Change Careers
Article by Nick Corcodilos, from AskTheHeadhunter.com.
www.asktheheadhunter.com
The Road To A New Career Isn't As Bumpy As You Think
Article by Laura Bobendrier, from Channel3000 Career Center.
www.channel3000.com
The Wall Says It's Time To Go
Article by Nick Corcodilos, from AskTheHeadhunter.com.
www.asktheheadhunter.com
Unhappy at Work? Consider a Change
Article from Joan Lloyd at Work.
www.joanlloyd.com
Career Search $100K-$375K
We partner with you in your search. Tired of job boards? Call us.
www.CareerChange.com
Changing Jobs
$25-60/hr. Local Jobs Near You. Part-Time Full-Time Start Tomorrow!
JobsLocal.org
Career Change Support
Join Our Free Support Group Free Advice, Discussions, Ideas.
www.DailyStrength.org

Guide to Finding and Working with a Business Mentor

Learn from successful business owners with free counseling


Sometimes, as a business owner, you can feel like you have no one to turn to for help. You can't always approach your employees for help with big decisions – and they're not likely to have the experience to help you find the right answers. What you can do is develop a relationship with a business mentor, a successful businessperson who has already been through the growing pains of starting and running a business. Mentors can offer many advantages, including:
  1. Free counseling.
  2. The opportunity to learn from someone else's successes and failures.
  3. Unbiased feedback.
  4. The ability to tap into their network.


Action Steps

The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Know why are you seeking help Your first task is determining what you want to accomplish with the mentoring relationship. If you want to improve your personal skills, take an inventory of your weaknesses and strengths. If there's a specific area of your business that needs improvement, decide to focus the mentoring relationship on that.

I recommend:  Assess your skills in a variety of areas, such as marketing, administrative, sales and financial management at ACINet.org.

Start the search by networking Finding a mentor takes legwork and lots of networking. Good places to search include industry trade associations as well as your local Rotary Club, Chamber of Commerce or SBA Small Business Development Center. Ask for referrals from friends, colleagues and other successful people in your community.

I recommend:  Find free counseling at an SBA Small Business Development Center near you. SCORE gives free online mentoring; review its "60-Second Guide to Finding a Business Mentor." Women can find a list of formal business mentoring programs at the National Women's Business Council. Members of the National Association for the Self-Employed can choose an online consultant in the specific business area where help is needed.

Choose a mentor Make a list of your top candidates. Then call or write them to set up a meeting. Take a short list of key questions to ask during your meeting that test your compatibility. For example, ask your prospective mentor about his or her work history, goals and successes. Later, note how comfortable you felt asking questions or sharing dreams. Once you've decided on the final candidate, ask if he or she is available on an ongoing basis.

I recommend:  Find resources to help you choose a mentor at AdvanceMentoring.com, a service that helps locate business mentors.

Forge a strong relationship bit by bit Commitment and consistency help build trust. Discussions should be held regularly, and they should include updates on your progress, as well as focusing on short and long-term goals. Come to meetings prepared; bring a laptop or some other recording device. Review the status of your action list before each meeting.

I recommend:  Discover how to create a mutually rewarding relationship at About.com.

Tips & Tactics

Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
  • Optimally, a mentor should match the skill sets you've already defined. He or she doesn't need to be a community hot-shot or celebrity.
  • Consider having more than one mentor to address different needs.
  • Be dependable by being on-time and preparing questions before your meeting.
  • Show your gratitude by sending thank-you notes or small gifts.

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How-To Guide from WORK.COM

Guide author
By Constance Gustke
Learn from successful business owners with free counseling.
Sometimes, as a business owner, you can feel like you have no one to turn to for help. You can't always approach your employees for help with big decisions – and they're not likely to have the experience to help you find the right ... Read more
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