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Networking: The Bigger the Better?

February 12th, 2011

Networking: The Bigger the Better? By Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D. NABBW’s Women and Work Expert It’s not about the size of your network.  It’s about the relationships you build.  Put yourself in your contact’s shoes.  Whom would you most likely help further their job search? A.   The person you met at a professional meeting who followed up with a thank you letter but never connected with you again? OR B.   The person that has gone beyond the thank you letter.  The one who sends an update on each referral you’ve offered. The one who “checks in” from time to time to relate... Read More

Is Fear of Rejection a Motivator or Hindrance in Your Job Search?

January 5th, 2011

Is Fear of Rejection a Motivator or Hindrance in Your Job Search? By Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D. NABBW’s Women and Work Expert The job search has been described as a series of “no’s” followed by a “yes”.  In other words, rejection is an inevitable part of every job search.  It’s your response to rejection that will influence the momentum and success of your job search. I am reminded of an incident that happened to my mother many years ago. While she was out riding, her horse took the bit in his mouth and headed “lickety-split” back to the barn. This particular barn had divided... Read More

When it Comes To Your Career-Building Efforts, Are You as Courageous as a Baby Squirrel?

December 14th, 2010

Are You as Courageous as a Baby Squirrel? By Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D. NABBW’s Women and Work Expert I watched a baby squirrel the other day as he learned to navigate trees.  He carefully tested each branch to see if it could hold his weight. A little later, I went back and looked up in the tree.  I was amazed!  The squirrel was jumping from branch to branch. Talk about a leaf of faith!  This was one courageous squirrel. How about you? Are you willing to make that leap of faith?  You may be anxious or fearful about your career transition or job search, but are you willing to commit... Read More

Women Boomers: Promote Your Unique Soft Skills And Win the Interview or Promotion

October 31st, 2010

Women Boomers: Promote Your Unique Soft Skills & Win the Interview or Promotion – Part 1 Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D. What are Soft Skills? They are the nontechnical skills that consistently rate high with employers…and Guess What?  They’re the skills in which Baby Boomer women excel!  Sometimes, however, you have to make those skills clear to the interviewer by knowing how to promote the knowledge and wisdom you’ve gained from your experience. I recently read and article by Katharine Hansen, Ph.D., Creative Director and Associate Publisher of Quintessential Careers.  In it she... Read More

BOOMER WOMEN Access the Power of Gratitude

September 22nd, 2010

By Dumont Gerken Owen, Ph.D. The practice of gratitude as a tool for happiness has been in the mainstream for years. Long-term studies support gratitude’s effectiveness, suggesting that a positive, appreciative attitude contributes to greater success in work, greater health, peak performance in sports and business, a higher sense of well-being, and a faster rate of recovery from surgery. But while we may acknowledge gratitude’s many benefits, it still can be difficult to sustain. So many of us are trained to notice what is broken, undone or lacking in our lives. And for gratitude to meet its... Read More

Three Tips to Keep you Motivated when your Job Search overwhelms you

August 22nd, 2010

Any woman engaged in a job search today knows that there are many things you cannot control. The key is toquit obsessing over the bad news. Yes, the economy is a mess, the job market has gone underground, and opportunities in your field are limited. These are things you cannot control: Now here are a few things you can. You can control your reactions…the job search has been described as a series of rejections followed by a Yes! Don’t give up before you reap the rewards. You can control the ROI on your investments of time and effort by crafting a personal brand and marketing campaign. You... Read More

Working from home? Setting Boundaries will Preserve Your Sanity

July 7th, 2010

Like many women entrepreneurs, I work out of my home and love it. I\’ve done some of my best writing sitting in the “comfy chair” in my “jammies.” (That\’s the best part.) Unfortunately, the comfy chair is in the garden room in front of the TV. It\’s also next to the kitchen, so I have basically hogged all of the communal living space as my office. I was constantly interrupted by the rest of the family (what nerve!) and began to feel like I was anchored to that chair. Something had to change! OK, someone had to change…. ME! I confess that I actually had a home office.... Read More

Confused About Choosing the Career of Your Dreams…

June 3rd, 2010

…or One that Will Put Food on your Table? You\’re not Alone. As a career coach, I have noticed an uptick of women who are re-evaluating their career focus and paths due to a scarcity of job opportunities or feeling unfulfilled in their current occupations. They are experiencing a conflict between pursuing their career dreams or accepting jobs that match their strengths and experience but are personally unfulfilling. Perhaps you can relate to this experience. I am currently working with a client who has 20 years of experience in administrative support. Her passions, however, are all... Read More