Blogs by Patty Armstrong
Patty Armstrong is a career counselor and educator on a mission to help people of all ages find careers they enjoy.
Topic: Where’s My Great Career?
There are days I feel like a lone missionary, trudging through a wilderness of indifference with a simple message that will help people see the light, but nobody’s listening. Yet every time I counsel a client or make a presentation about the relatively new field and philosophy of Career Development, I get such an enthusiastic response and such gratitude that I know I must persist.
You can love your job and be excited about your work. That’s my message and I back it up with 13 years of experience in career development, over 20 years of counseling and youth work, my own re-careering experience from a crazy-making, rollercoaster job into satisfying work I love, and a box full of excited thank you notes from clients launched into careers they can’t wait to begin.
Besides identifying a passion, one also needs to know the resources and skills to achieve their career goal. It might be education, training, an internship, paying one’s dues on the way up the ladder or just getting a foot in the door. But more and more in this age of misinformation fueled by media ratings chases and political posturing, job seekers and career planners need good, reliable information to make good decisions – and they’re not getting it, especially on a consistent basis.
Employment is a field that has radically changed in just a few decades and continues to change so fast we can’t keep up. And very few people know the new rules. This blog is about providing useful information, insight about job and job search experiences, and revelation of those hidden secrets. So, what does that GCDF after my name mean and what does a GCDF do? Stay tuned and find out.
April 22, 2013 at 1:07 PM
Is Fear Inhibiting Your Career Development?
'..we must first recognize and name our fears so we can stop hopelessly obsessing on them, then healing, clearer thinking and problem-solving can occur'
February 15, 2013 at 1:00 PM
Higher Ed Shifts Focus from Participation to Graduation
"The quality of life for every one of us in the community will improve"
January 24, 2013 at 1:24 PM
Your English Teacher Does Not Know How to Make Job Search Resumes!
"A bad resume won’t kill or maim you, but it is harmful to your job search and career growth."
December 14, 2012 at 9:00 PM
Returning to School as an Adult
"Make a resolution for 2013 to get that education or training you know you need to improve your current career or create a new one"
November 19, 2012 at 2:50 PM
Where Are All The Job Postings?
"You need to know what kind of jobs you’re looking for, what skills you have to offer and how to effectively market yourself to compete"
September 17, 2012 at 4:52 PM
Re-careering: Finding and Selling Yourself in a New Field
Finding a new career that satisfies...
August 2, 2012 at 3:11 PM
Bogus Jobs and Exploiting Employers
"...f it sounds too easy or too good to be true, it probably is"
July 18, 2012 at 2:19 PM
"...to be successful in a job search we must develop the skills to know and explain ourselves wel"
May 11, 2012 at 12:57 PM
I Just Graduated and Now I Need a Job
"With hard work and the right guidance, you can find the great career you want"
April 17, 2012 at 1:49 PM
How Do I Tell People I was Fired?
"When your job application asks your reason for leaving, you need to come up with a neutral – and truthful – explanation..."
March 27, 2012 at 12:32 PM
Are There Really Jobs at a Career Fair?
"Be realistic about what you might find at a career fair. It could be worth your while."
February 14, 2012 at 12:42 PM
"Wouldn’t you feel better if the place you spend most of your week was a place where you enjoyed spending your time?"
January 12, 2012 at 12:44 PM
Networking? I Don’t Even Know Where to Start!
"Most successful networkers don’t have a natural ability and have had to learn, work at and consciously develop these skills"
December 9, 2011 at 3:56 PM
The Best Resume Shows Employers You Have What They Want
"You must customize your resume"
November 30, 2011 at 5:34 PM
Get That Job
Volunteering Your Way Into A Job
"The best volunteer job is one that has value to you, not just the organization who benefits from your services"
November 15, 2011 at 3:27 PM
"...true confidence and belief in our self will shine through"
October 27, 2011 at 3:07 PM
Book Review: Know What Human Resources Departments Are Looking For
"...being confident, with a positive attitude makes you the most attractive candidate"
October 17, 2011 at 2:00 PM
They Didn’t Pick Me for the Job. I Must Be…
"...keep trying. It’s the only way to ultimately get what you want"
October 10, 2011 at 3:31 PM
Book Review: Great Tips for a Job Search in Tough Times
"With all the struggles people have had finding work in the current economy, I was delighted to find this timely and very practical book..."
September 27, 2011 at 3:09 PM
Job Application: Obscuring Your Age or Obliterating Your Chances?
"All too often, excellent job candidates are not being selected for interviews because their old-fashioned, one-size-fits-all resumes are missing crucial information"
