eLearners.com Empowerment Tour “Career Whisperers” Offer Free Book of Wisdom
Networking, adapting and focus are keys to helping jobless Americans
Hoboken, New Jersey (October 22, 2009)—eLearners.com (http://www.eLearners.com), the creators of the Career Stimulus Package and Empowerment Tour, announced today the launch of a Book of Wisdom from the Empowerment Tour’s “Career Whisperers.” The free book is a compilation of advice based upon common questions posed to the career coaches (aka “Career Whisperers”) during the Empowerment Tour, a 40-city RV tour held June to September 2009. The Career Whisperers’ “Book of Wisdom” is available at http://www.careerstimulus.com.
The book is the result of laser coaching sessions with nearly 1,000 Americans who were struggling with their careers. From these sessions, the Career Whisperers have extracted the most relevant and practical advice for a career hunt or transition in today’s economic environment. Similar to the laser coaching sessions, the “Book of Wisdom” is designed to help people discover the challenges holding them back and the strategies needed to achieve success in the workplace.
Interestingly, the most commonly asked question was, “What is the best career to pursue?” The advice: look at your own interests and strengths, instead of what is hot in the job market right now. “If you merely choose a hot career (e.g. nursing, security, energy) and then pursue a degree or job in that field, without a major interest or skill that is applicable, it will be difficult to stand out,” said Michael Cushman, one of the Career Whisperers. “You have to be true to yourself.”
- Beyond providing greater detail on identifying “the right career for you,” the Book of Wisdom also points to three major themes that stood out from the Career Whisperers’ conversations with Americans:
- Focus. If you are willing to take anything, you will gain nothing. If you don’t have a specific focus for your job search, there may be a tendency to submit your resume for any job opening, whether or not a position matches your skill level and experience. Instead, target specific companies, organizations and people, and develop a plan to become known in your industry of choice.
- Network. It’s not about selling yourself to others, it’s about getting others to sell you. Employers don’t want to hire the wrong person for a job―it costs the company time, money and resources. If someone they respect recommends you for a position, they will pay attention.
- Adapt. Industries, professions and jobs come and go. If a degree is 10 to 15 years old, it’s out of date. Education isn’t something you do only when you are young. Today, retooling yourself through earning continuing education credits or ongoing professional development is a way of life. You are never too old to learn.
“Americans we met were often surprised when we asked them, ‘what do you really want to do,’” added Ayn Fox, another Empowerment Tour coach. “At first they said they had never thought about it and that they didn’t know. After further questioning they realized that they did know, they just needed permission, encouragement and a strategy to go after what they really want.”
For many Americans, the Career Whisperers found that further training and education may be the next most logical step to help people secure their dream career. To help with that training, the Empowerment Tour offers the opportunity for people to apply for a full-tuition scholarship to one of eight accredited online schools: American Public University, Ashworth College, Bryant & Stratton College, Capella University, Ellis University, Everest University, Virginia College, and Western Governors University. Applicants can still apply for a scholarship online through October 31, 2009, at http://www.careerstimulus.com. Recipients will be selected in November.
About eLearners.com®
eLearners.com is one of several high visibility websites operated by EducationDynamics. Since 1999, eLearners.com has been successfully connecting learners to online education, including online degree and certificate programs, specialized career training, and a variety of online courses. For prospective students, eLearners.com provides a powerful search engine for users to find thousands of online degree program offerings, as well as educational evaluation tools and financial aid resources. For online colleges and universities, the eLearners.com website offers a low-cost, performance-based method to provide national exposure and increase enrollments in their online learning programs. For more information on eLearners.com, visit http://www.eLearners.com.
About EducationDynamics
EducationDynamics, a portfolio company of Halyard Capital, is higher education’s leading marketing services company dedicated to helping institutions find, enroll and retain students. Its content-rich and highly visible education websites, including EarnMyDegree.com, eLearners.com, GradSchools.com, StudyAbroad.com, and its more than 50 special interest microsites, make EducationDynamics the premier provider of qualified prospective students for colleges and universities. In addition, the company offers a full suite of Web-delivered services proven to drive enrollment growth and reduce student attrition. Through its Market Research and Advisory Services division, the company brings a decade of proprietary research, unparalleled market and student intelligence, and best practice insights to its clients. For more information, visit http://www.educationdynamics.com.