Former recruiter Alan Kearns is the Dr. Phil of career coaches – but without the evangelizing. Unlimited gets some free advice

Unlimited: What changes have you noticed at CareerJoy?
Alan Kearns: Many more people are coming to see us earlier in their career. We also see many professionals impacted by lay-off. Some are using this time as a way to reset their career and determine if they are on the right track. Many of those impacted have never had to learn how to look for a job.

UL: Networking seems more important than ever.
AK: Over 80 per cent of opportunity comes from your network. Nurturing and managing it is a long-term habit that all professionals need to develop. I come from a Scouting background, and one of the key things I learned was to be prepared.

UL: So, Scout, what’s the silver lining?
AK: The positive is that companies are working smarter and becoming more focused. A good example is General Motors. It was unfocused and undisciplined as a company. I am not sure if it will survive long-term, but in the short-term they are taking action to change their strategy and to get back to their core strengths.

UL: You could say the same for individual employees.
AK: People who deal with this reset in our economy as a time to refocus and upgrade their skills will get great rewards. Those that really take ownership over their future will do best.

More Careers Dos and Don’ts
• Do an excellent job at what you are currently employed
• Do a thorough analysis of your strengths and weaknesses
• Don’t look for opportunity. Look for ways to add value where you currently work
• Don’t let the market, money or the media make career decisions for you