Your Questions Answered:
Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club
www.distinctiveweb.com/careercoaching.htm

Q. What exactly is job search coaching and how will it benefit me in my job search?

A. Coaching--coaching on any issue--involves a series of questions, observation, feedback, and other techniques to help you explore the issues you want to resolve, clarify, and understand. Unlike counseling, coaching sessions are very results-oriented and very much guided by your agenda. The ultimate goal of job search coaching is to have you achieve or even exceed your job search and career goals-whatever those goals may be.

However, job search coaching is somewhat unique in that it often requires a blend of coaching and consulting. It is important to understand that as your coach I will NOT give you answers. As an expert on job search issues, there may be times that I step back into an advisory/consulting role to give you guidance on job searching best practices. When the situation calls for that, I will not hesitate to take on that role. But, for the most part I will facilitate and coach you through the process of discovering your own solutions and answers and strategies.

There is a real difference between activity that is just busy-work and action steps that are focused on producing RESULTS that will move you closer to your goal. This is a distinction that I will emphasize throughout our work together. As your coach, each week I will coach you in setting action steps correlated with the goals you have set for yourself. Between sessions you will need to work on these action steps and as your coach I will hold you responsible and accountable to these commitments. In that way, we move you forward and closer to your goals every week!

Q. Is there more to the group than just the weekly coaching calls?

A. Yes. The calls are just a part of the overall big-picture of your 12 weeks of coaching. Besides the calls, you will receive by email two weekly coaching check-in forms that are designed to help you stay in close contact with me--your coach, set realistic goals, and then hold you accountable to those goals. One of these forms will be sent to you shortly BEFORE each coaching call and the second one will be sent to you AFTER each coaching call.

Even if you choose not to attend the weekly calls, I really encourage you to take full advantage of these check-in forms as you will reap real benefits from taking just a few minutes to check in with me each week, documenting your goals, successes, and questions. Just a few of the most significant benefits include breaking through the natural tendency that many of us have for procrastination while staying focused on your long-term objectives with actions that will produce tangible results and continuous progress toward achieving your job search goals.

The check-in forms also give you the opportunity to ask questions of me as your coach and to provide me feedback about what I can do to better support you and to be a more effective coach for you.

You will also receive an invitation to join the exclusive, private Maximum Success Club group on LinkedIn. This will provide you with a discussion forum to interact with, network with, and get/receive support from other group members as well as Michelle.

Q. When are the weekly coaching calls?

A. Open coaching is every Wednesday at 12:00 noon Eastern (New York time) and lasting one hour. Michelle holds the bridge line open, remains on the phone, and accepts callers as they come on the line. You are welcome to remain on the call for the whole hour or just pop in to get a few minutes of focused laser coaching on an issue that you need help with. Attendance is highly recommended but not required. We record each coaching call and provide it to participants in MP3 format after each session. Even if you can't attend, you'll learn through the coaching discussions of other club members...professionals just like you. If we ever need to reschedule, we'll do our best to let you know as far in advance as possible. Before every call you will receive an email reminder with the phone number and access code that you need to call in.

Q. What are the coaching calls like?

A. Our weekly group coaching calls are designed to facilitate interaction and participation. Part of what makes the group format so powerful is your ability to interact with, get support from, and learn from your peers. I try to encourage this interaction and have intentionally kept the weekly meetings very informal, without a set-in-advance agenda. There are times when it may just be you on the call with Michelle and other times when there may be multiple callers.

When we have multiple participants on a call, I will do my best to give everyone who wants a chance to speak an opportunity to do so during the hour, and to receive some focused laser coaching on whatever job search issues they bring to the table. If you have supportive comments, feedback, or suggestions for another member, I would encourage you to jump in and speak up. But, if you'd rather just listen in and learn from the questions others bring, that's okay too. Nobody will force your participation.

Q. What job search issues will we cover in the group?

A. For the most part, we do not have a set agenda for the weekly calls. I've done this intentionally-so that I can be sure we focus on the issues that are most important to you. This means that each week we are prioritizing all of our time to address whatever issues, questions, and challenges are most pressing for the people on the call that week. During any given call we may focus on a variety of job search issues-topics such as networking, interviewing, job search tactics, goal-setting, long-term career planning, just to name a few. Or, if there is consensus among the group on a given call, we may focus solely on one issue. I try to remain flexible and adjust to the needs of the members. Whatever your questions and challenges are, bring them to the call. You can read a long list of suggested topics that you might bring up at http://www.distinctiveweb.com/careercoaching.htm

Q. How many members are on the coaching calls?

A. Because the group is structured with a "rolling" membership, every week is different. Many members tell me that they receive all the value and support they want from our weekly coaching check-in process and they prefer not to attend the calls. Other members like to attend every call. Some call in, get five minutes of coaching, and then hang up. Others like to remain for the whole hour. If we ever start to have the problem of too many members calling in, so that not everyone gets a chance for coaching, I'll consider adding a second weekly call. For now, that hasn't been a problem.

Q. Do I have to attend the weekly coaching calls?

A. No, while it is recommended, you do not need to attend the weekly calls. Each call is recorded in MP3 format and made available to group members so that you can go back and listen later. Some people find value just from learning from the recordings and taking advantage of other parts of the program.

Q. I haven't started my job search yet, should I wait to join until I have?

A. The job market is growing increasingly competitive by the day, unemployment is rising, and the business world seems to be in a constant state of change. Now, more than ever, even as an employee, it is important to begin to think of yourself as a free agent and the CEO of your own career. There are only benefits to be had by planning ahead, proactively learning the skills that you need to be career self-reliant, and making sure that you have all the tools and knowledge you need to remain flexible and adaptive in a rapidly changing business world. The Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club will help you in all of these ways-whether you are currently job searching or not.

Q. Do you offer any type of guarantee?

A. Every cent you invest in this valuable program is backed by my reliable, 100% no-time-limit guarantee. If for some reason, the "Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club" doesn't live up to your expectations, simply tell me and I'll refund your purchase out of my own pocket. You have my word on it! All I ask is that you give the program the full 12 weeks and that you commit to at least a minimum level of participation by completing at least 10 of the 24 coaching check-in forms that I send to you (although I recommend the weekly calls, they aren't required to qualify for the guarantee).

Q. Do I have to wait for a new group to start or can I join at any time?

A. Your membership in the group is a "rolling" membership that lasts for 12 weeks. So yes, you can join at any time and you will be invited to attend the next weekly session.

Q. Can I remain with the group more than 12 weeks?

A. Sure you can. If you want to and feel you are getting benefit from the support of the group. Since out group goes beyond just current job searches to supporting our members in developing the skills and plans that they need to become career self-reliant, there are members who might want to stay with us more than 12 weeks.

Q. How do you handle confidentiality issues?

A. If confidentiality is an issue, you should use your first name only and not reveal any other specific information (for example, talk in general about your company and not use the company name) that might allow others to guess your identity. Of course, the only people who have access to the calls are other members, and you have all agreed to keep each others' information private and not discuss it outside the group. So ideally, privacy will never be an issue. As your coach I will be privy to information about your identity and career, but I will not reveal anything about you to other group members besides what you share yourself.

Q. Why did you start the Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club and what are your goals for the program?

A. When I founded Distinctive Documents (aka Distinctive Career Services LLC) in 1996, it was with a focus on developing resumes and other career marketing tools for job seekers. Over the years we have earned a reputation as a leader in the industry well-known for unmatched quality of services and deliverables. I am sincerely proud of the fact that we have worked successfully with many thousands of job hunters, providing them with the documents that they need to promote and market themselves in the job market.

But, as important and helpful as it can be, a professionally written resume is only part of a successful job search. There are, of course, many benefits to a professionally written resume. But a resume is just a tool, and like any tool, if it isn't used in an effective way, it won't be as effective for you as it could be. Time and again, I noticed that we would provide a resume to a client who would later admit that he or she wasn't quite sure what the next steps should be. I'd get phone calls and email after email with questions about job search strategies and techniques. As a trained and certified career coach I wanted to help. The Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club was the solution to this problem.

My goal in the group is to support and coach each and every one of the members in not just conducting a fast, effective job search currently, but to support and guide them in becoming "career self-reliant," helping them to develop the essential skills to manage their careers now and in the future. I want my clients to be successful and the Maximum Success Job Search Coaching Club round out and fill the previous gap in our services. Now, more than ever before, we can honestly say that we provide our clients with ALL the support that they need to achieve their career goals.