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 participate in 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. You will receive Michelle's personal phone number given exclusively to her VIP and coaching club clients. Michelle will make herself available for the entire open coaching hour. Just use the private telephone number that will be provided to you and call in during the open coaching hour to speak directly with Michelle and get 10-15 minutes of quick laser coaching on your job search issues and challenges. Participation in the coaching calls is highly recommended but not required. We have many members who rarely call in but receive value through the coaching check-in forms that help them to set and stay accountable to their job search goals. If Michelle ever needs 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 that you need in order to call in and speak with Michelle.

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

A. For the most part, Michelle does not have a set agenda for the weekly calls. She's done this intentionally-so that she can be sure the call is focused on the issues that are most important to you. This means that each week your time together is prioritized to address whatever issues, questions, and challenges are most pressing for you that week. During any given call you 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, you may choose to focus solely on one issue. Michelle tries 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 in the group?

A. Because the group is structured with a "rolling" membership, every week is different. Some members tell us that they receive all the value and support they want from our weekly coaching check-in process and they prefer not to call in during the open coaching session. Some call in every now and then, and other members like to call and receive Michelle's one-on-one support every week. If we ever start to have the problem of too many members calling in, so that not everyone gets a chance for coaching, Michelle will consider adding a second weekly call. For now, that hasn't been a problem. If you call during the open coaching hour and receive voice mail, it means Michelle is coaching another member and you have a choice: Either hang up and call back a few minutes later until Michelle is able to answer directly, or you may leave a voice mail and telephone number and Michelle will call you back within the hour.

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. Some members find value by 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 call in during 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 Michelle's support of your job search you are more than welcome to rejoin for another 12 weeks. 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. You will 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. If confidentiality is an issue, you may choose not to participate in the group. Of course, the only people who have access to the LinkedIn group 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.