Sandra Sea

Q: You are one of the rare career coa

ches who focuses on singles issues. What inspired you to start Singles Career Coaching?

There was a point in my life where I needed career and life coaching myself, and I felt frustrated because it seemed the professionals who offered their advice didn’t understand the single lifestyle and the special challenges singles face. I spent a great deal of time searching for professional coaches – specifically for single adults – and I kept coming up empty. So around that time, I decided to provide a much-needed service for the singles community.

Q: How can singles ensure that the benefits they receive from your services are on par with their married peers?

For many single adults, career success and personal satisfaction is not always just one job away. In today’s turbulent economy and dwindling job market, single adults face special challenges – they have to do it all on their own. They don’t have a spouse or partner to “fall back on,” so to speak.

Single professionals also need special tools, resources and support to advance their careers or transition to a different career while still maintaining balance in other areas of their lives. So, I offer presentations, workshops, training sessions and one-on-one coaching for singles to help them in various capacities, such as:

• Landing their dream job
• Getting out of debt
• Earning more money
• Establishing a plan for financial freedom
• Transforming their career
• Attaining a promotion
• Gaining skills for more advanced jobs
• Launching or expanding a business
• Increasing business profitability

Q: In your opinion, what are the three most common problems individuals face due to their solo status?

Singles face many special challenges in today’s economy and social milieu:

• Singles may not have an intimate partner to lean on. They have no second income to help “cushion” them through their own transition times or periods of regrouping.

• Singles may not have the benefit of a listening ear or sounding board with whom to discuss goals, frustrations and strategies for moving on in life. This, in turn, makes them worry more because they just don’t have anyone close enough to just “hear them,” and they frequently feel very alone.

• Singles often don’t know what to do to get to the next step. Singles need structure in their lives, and they need objectivity from someone else’s perspective to set milestones along their career paths, as well.

Q: The holidays are right around the corner. How can individuals utilize the company party to get ahead in their career?

Network, Network, Network!
If you are attending your own company party, be careful that you don’t give the illusion that you want to leave the company, even if you’re very unhappy; never burn bridges, especially before you’ve crossed them! Also, casually approach only those who you believe have the authority to make decisions in the company. Nine times out of ten, professionals really appreciate and feel respected when others ask for their advice. And, if you see unfamiliar faces, by all means, introduce yourself—they may be your stepping stone to a fantastic opportunity. Finally, it’s very important to be a great listener and observe what others are talking about.

If you are attending another company’s party, again, listen and observe – your eyes and ears are often your best “networking” antennas, so use them! Also, it’s not the time to be shy -- make the rounds to unfamiliar faces and get to know more about what they do – people genuinely enjoy talking about themselves, so “What do you do?” is always a great conversation-opener.

Q: You offer career retreats for single adults. Can you tell our readers what is involved in these special getaways?

Yes. Whether you look at it as a mini-vacation with life-changing results, or an intensive opportunity to create a better future for yourself, these weekend packages are an investment you'll never regret.


I use my connections, resources and experience in business and career building exclusively for singles. Singles Career Coaching offers thorough career planning services that include:
• Consultation with a Professional Resume Writer so that your best assets make the first impression;
• Consultation with a Corporate Image coach so that your appearance matches your potential;
• Specialized, industry-based Personalized Career Assessments to ensure that you are using your unique talents to the best of your ability;
• Tools and Techniques to help you create and obtain achievable and audacious career goals;
• Career-focused tools that will keep you motivated and moving forward, even when you feel you’ve lost momentum;
• Strategies designed to help you create your dream career faster than you ever imagined.
This all-inclusive event is designed especially for the needs of single people who are striving towards career success and fulfillment. The all-inclusive plan means that your luxury transportation (excluding airfare), meals and lodging are already covered so that you can concentrate fully on activities created to move you towards your dreams faster than ever.

Q: Discrimination in the workplace is a hot topic, but when it comes to singles that subject is often not addressed. Why do you think this is the case, and how can individuals better deal with this form of unfair treatment?

Having experienced this treatment first-hand, it is important to realize that sometimes society automatically believes that if you are single, you do not have as many responsibilities as married people have and therefore have more time at your disposal to invest in working late, long hours and/or on weekends. As most singles know, that is not true. It is a fact that due to this mind-set in the working world, most singles tend to overcommit themselves, which leaves them without time to take proper care of their personal needs. And this, of course, leads straight to burnout.

It is essential that singles understand that they have a choice in their work environment. Most of the time, you can say “no” without it affecting your job. Certainly there will be times when overtime is required, but when it is not, don’t go out of your way to be the hero. Remember, you have a life too. If you feel as if you don’t, feel free to contact Singles Career Coaching, and I guarantee you will discover a new, fresh perspective.

Q: Love happens in the workplace. What is your advice to individuals who are dating up or dating down?

Regardless of whether they are dating “up or down,” I ask them to ponder a few questions:

If this relationship would cease, would it be hard to see or work with this person every day in the course of your job duties?

Could you stand your co-workers’ inevitable “whispers” around the office or workplace? If so or if not, how would you deal with it?

If you break up and your ex started dating someone else in your office, how would you feel?

Will the relationship make a negative mark on your career in the long term?

I also ask them to evaluate their career, into which they have invested a great deal of time, money and hard work, versus a relationship that may or may not be successful in the long term.

Q: What three things can job seekers do to improve their professional resumes?

1. Keep it up to date! Take it out and give it a critical look now and then; things happen so rapidly in the working world that you may often neglect to include very important successes, awards, tributes, contributions, publications, and new skills or courses you’ve taken.

2. Don’t forget to include all of your recent achievements; if you ignore your own successes, others will, too! Don’t let your success go unnoticed!

3. Also, customize your resume to be relevant to each job for which you apply. Have several “flexible” resume templates on hand for that unexpected tip or interesting job for which, by simply tweaking your resume to highlight your expertise in a certain area, you’ll be a solid contender.

Q: These days most resumes are submitted electronically. What can individuals do to make sure their application gets past the influx of resumes in order to land a first interview?

A great tip is to look for the keywords in the job description and tailor your resume to the job posting, making sure you have those keywords in your resume or cover letter. However, always be truthful about your achievements and job duties.

Q: Any other words of wisdom?
- Set goals that ignite your passions, and achieve those goals according to a structured timetable;—Discover and use your hidden talents;
- Create a fulfilling career and personal lifestyle;
- Keep moving forward in spite of obstacles.

Contact Sandra S. Sea

(888) 267-4140 telephone

(888) 257-0253 fax

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www.singlescareercoaching.com