Stockholm-based psychologist,Per-Olof Eriksson was contacted by Swedish telecom giant Ericsson, in 1997, and asked to work with them to adapt and implement a life and career coaching program originally offered by the Swedish tax authority. Ericsson says about itself,”the entire company will become more successful if you are motivated and inspired.” Per-Olof, who had founded career company Triolog in 1994, worked with Ericsson to build on the Propeller program which eventually spread to police and even prison authorities, resulting in 43% of users manifesting some form of career mobility within three months, and generally seen as a success in its own right, and a means of attracting new hires. Listen online or on your radio for Per-Olof’s global career insights, and his own story, bypassing an earlier career as a photographer to live out a boyhood dream of becoming a psychologist from his roots “born and raised as a workers’ child.”
Walking the talk is what Jane Aubriet-Beausire is doing as a career professional in Paris, France. Of her work helping people through career change, Jane says, ‘I was born to do this.” Yet now, in her own career she’s “letting go to see what’s going to emerge.” Emergent career exploration like Jane’s is becoming a global reality, which presents a particular challenge in France where Jane says, “people tend to be clearly defined by their work, and work is clearly defined.” Tune in Friday to hear Jane’s perspective on the changing career landscape in France, plus, her own career story from hotel management to marketing, and from recruiting to HR leadership in some of Europe’s largest corporations, through a company supported masters degree and the transformation she underwent when attending a career conference in Toronto.
Bright Sparks from Sept. 24 show: Winning over an employer from skills gained as an English major. Winning over new clients unexpectedly arising from a failed job application.Daphne Woolfnamed seven vital skills she gained during her English degree: “Reading, writing, think critically, multitask, vision, creativity, communication.” But if reading is a skill we gain in grade 1, Career Buzz asked her to elaborate on an English major’s version of this skill and its transferability to the world of work. “We are bombarded with information to read. When you’re in university and you’re asked to read novel after novel, you need to be able to read quickly. You need to learn how to extract from that novel or that book, what the salient points are. For me, I learned how to read quickly, effectively, and I learned to be a critical reader, focusing on what’s important and what isn’t.” Asked if this transferrable reading skill makes a difference to employers, Daphne said, “Definitely, because it drives productivity. They want an employee who’s a quick study.” Would it make a difference with Daphne as an employer? Daphne laughed and said, “I would find that refreshing and insightful on the part of the individual!”
PLUS, Nick Frühling, a graphic designer, media maker, and I.T. artist living and working in Richmond, BC created a totally unique job application to Pixar’s new office in Vancouver, for the position of Human Cannonball by investing $2 on a human cannonball outfit, and creating an application website. He didn’t get the job, but his inspired action had excellent side effects. Says Nick: “I wasn’t expecting it at all. At first I was disappointed and I didn’t want to tell people, they’d ask how it was going and I say I’m still waiting. And there still may be something. But at the same time I’ve had requests for quotes — it’s hard to keep up. My website is now high on the search rankings. I think people are seeing the human cannonball thing and then looking at my portfolio. And also the story seems to get shared a lot.” Nick told how news of his story led to an invitation to apply for a job at Lego.
CareerCycles asks: Which ordinary skill can you now claim as an extraordinary strength because of your unique experience?
For example: Daphne learned to read in grade 1 but because of her English degree reading is an extraordinary strength of hers: she learned how to read quickly, effectively, be a critical reader, focus on what’s important, and is certain this strenght can drive productivity for any employer.
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