THE BEAT GOES ON


Thank you for taking time to learn about my career coaching and consulting services. Below are some frequently asked questions. If after reading through this information, you still have questions, feel free to contact me directly and I will be happy to follow up with you personally.

WHAT IS YOUR MOST IMPORTANT DECISION?

For the greatest success, careers need to be managed!
Without a plan to give direction, a career can stagnate and grow boring.
Taking time for the experience that personal coaching brings, assists you in confirming your worth to the marketplace, and how to proceed to give yourself and those who are part of your life, the best possible income, benefits, and fulfillment.


DO I THINK CHANGE IS POSSIBLE IN MIDLIFE CAREERS?

The bulk of my client-base are professionals who are either looking to make a career/job change to gain greater control over their work-life balance, or are considering a shift to home-based self employment.

Are they successful in their mission? YES

 

Change comes in different Midlife packages:

oooI'd like to pop back into my web site (Jan 22, 2006) to discuss a specific type problem that came from from a comment on my blog. See http://blog.retirementcareers.com -------- January 2006 Questions and January 22 Answer:

Comment: I have just discovered your web site and blog and have found them interesting and informative. However, I do not see any mid-life career puzzlers like mine. I am a 46 year old stay-at-home mother of young children. My children are just now entering elementary school and I am starting to consider what to do to reestablish a career. I really did not have a very clear career path before starting my family late in life, and do not want to return to anything like my previous work anyway. Yet I feel lost and without direction and also feel a great deal of guilt that I should feel so confused at my age.

0AAnswer:IWidows feel this way too! All of a sudden a husband is gone and though there may or may not be money, the confusion of what to do with their life is the same. They feel the same lack of direction.

Finding your own particular brilliance, really identifying what you love to do is the beginning of the answer.

What I find is that everyone has a unique career path. Aborted or maybe never realized, it is still there. Our hidden destination, that perhaps just hasn't emerged until we're mature enough to handle it, and in the case of women, have time enough to devote to it.

The answer parallels problems of retirement careers in that the first clue is confusion about how to make a returning or retirement career choice and what choice to make.

A CALL FOR COMMENTS:

I invite comments of other women returning not retiring. Send comments from this web site, post to my blog, or write directly to me: maryann@midlifecareers.com.

I am writing an ebook about retirement careers and RETURNING NOT RETIRING is a necessary chapter, not limited to women, but certainly part of their career pattern.

I have excellent case studies to write about: successful women returning to a career - even starting from never. But I invite more of your comments and or questions as I prepare the book. - please!!


DO I THINK CHANGE IS POSSIBLE IN MIDLIFE CAREERS?

The graying of the 76-million-strong Baby Boom generation - those born between 1946 and 1964 is now a fact.
As this vast population has passed through each decade, they have changed the market place. Boomers didn't just go to work - they transformed the workplace.
Today in their 50's, these graying professionals with their maturing careers are today's healthy, vibrant, productive members of working America --- in all industries --- from professional staff to CEO of the business enterprise.

DO I THINK AGE IS A PROBLEM?

Perhaps fear that lurks in one's closet of horrors at age-50+ is a bigger enemy to destroying self-esteem than actually redirecting a career.

A 2004 Exec-U-Net survey of 278 executives about age discrimination reported their findings:

  • 72% of executives fear being victimized by age discrimination.
  • 40% are worried they will be forced into retirement due to age.
  • 36% fear becoming too old to find a new job
  • 22% are concerned their skills are becoming outdated.
Living longer today, having healthier lives makes us productive well beyond past generations.
As a generational coach, I see fantastic change happen in midlife and can truthfully say that I have never seen anyone (and that's a big statement) go backward if they actively put into practice a plan of action and followed through!

DO I HAVE A PLAN FOR YOU?

Actually, You Have The Plan!

All the potential is within you. It is just so far cluttered and untapped.
I just help you unravel and tap into your potential! My clients feel they get a strong return on their investment. I help them reach tough decisions, save them time and money, and steer them to a more satisfying work-life solution.
They make the plan, set the course, and steer direction.

MY UNIQUE FOCUS

I particularly specialize in midlife career change.
With over a decade of experience and hours of research, learning, and analyzing midlife career change, I offer the specific knowledge and focus to assist change: (1) advancing within an industry, (2) transferring skills to new industries, and (3) facilitating change from corporate to entrepreneurial ventures, and more.

CASE STUDY: Bill W.

Bill was 55 years old when he came to see me. He had worked in telecommunications since he left college to support his young wife and new child. From telegraph to cellular, he grew, as did his family.

Bill's concern about a forthcoming merger was twofold: his age and lack of a college degree.

Did he stand a chance, if a younger GM from the other company, doing his comparable job, could replace him? He was now nervous about not finishing his degree that he put off to support his family. Frustrated, he asked me, " Can we include that even if I don't have a degree, I have sent all 5 kids to college - with some still in attendance?"

First, we worked on isolating his strengths to bring to the acquiring company. Next, he grew clear on his plan of action. And thirdly, we worked on a resume to set out what he had done, what he knew, what he had accomplished, and most importantly, what was uniquely his to bring to the position of General Manager.

Very often, I might add, even if your company knows what you are doing, sometimes the management in charge, or the new management coming on board, simply do not know the scope of what you know. Perhaps, they have come in after you and just saw you in your given role.

Reaffirming Bill's strengths through objective testing and following up with a great presentation to hand over to new management, Bill received from his new employers - a stay-package.

He was a General Manager of a major contender in the telecommunication's marketplace, and remains a General Manager today.

May I add, Bill has STAYED through 4-more mergers!

PS - Bill is now 6 years older and still does not have time to finish his degree. He is too busy helping add to his company's bottom-line.

Did his age hurt him?

No. Presented correctly, Bill's age and well-honed knowledge was and is an asset, not a liability.

The esteem he gained through coaching didn't hurt either!

Comment:Bill is actually very typical of many men and women in their mid-to-late 50's who do not have a degree, but advanced their careers within corporate by working very hard with long hours and total commitment to their position and company.
The boomers who followed and are now in their early 50's are more typically the one's with a college degree.

HOW DOES MY COACHING/CONSULTING PROCESS WORK?

I conduct sessions by telephone-nationwide, and in person in Indianapolis, Indiana. While I do offer a one-session option for specific issues, most clients can expect to meet with me for 3-6 sessions.
Each session is followed with summary and an action plan as your "take-home" field work.
Together we follow-up with a dynamic resume and cover letter to present to future prospective employers.

WHY USE MARY ANN FINCH VANDIVIER?

Easy to Work With - I am accessible to my clients and they are able to get the help they need. Having 5-minute "quickie" sessions and e-mails answered, keeps the communication between us flowing, and makes for a positive situation for both of us.
Satisfied Clients - My clients feel that they get a strong return on their investment. I help them reach tough decisions, save them time and money, and steer them to a more satisfying work-life solution
Coach and Writer - I offer a twofold approach: coaching and resume writing. We follow-up a plan of action with a dynamic resume and cover letter to present to future prospective employers. I consider this combination unbeatable.

SOUNDS GOOD. HOW CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?

Please see Coaching Services.

Feel free to call me to discuss your situation. I can customize a package depending on you needs. My fees are very competitive with other experienced career coaches in private practice.

Coaching is an investment in your future.
What I need from you: To know that you are committed to change.
Confidentiality - Please know that all my work with you is confidential.