Mike Profita writes for About.com:Job Searching.
Ten Steps to a Successful Career Change:
1. Evaluate your current job satisfaction. Keep a journal of your daily reactions to your job situation and look for recurring themes. Which aspects of your current job do you like/dislike? Are your dissatisfactions related to the content of your work your company culture or the people with whom you work?
2. Assess your interests, values and skills through self help resources like the exercises in What Color is Your Parachute. Review past successful roles, volunteer work, projects and jobs to identify preferred activities and skills. Determine whether your core values and skills are addressed through your current career.
3. Brainstorm ideas for career alternatives by discussing your core values/skills with friends, family, networking contacts and counselors. Visit career libraries and use online resources like those found in the Career Advice section of the Job Search website.
4. Conduct a preliminary comparative evaluation of several fields to identify a few targets for in depth research.
5. Read as much as you can about those fields and reach out to personal contacts in those arenas for informational interviews.
6. Shadow professionals in fields of primary interest to observe work first hand. Spend anywhere from a few hours to a few days job shadowing people who have jobs that interest you. Your college Career Office is a good place to find alumni volunteers who are willing to host job shadowers.
7. Identify volunteer and freelance activities related to your target field to test your interest e.g. if you are thinking of publishing as a career, try editing the PTA newsletter. If you're interested in working with animals, volunteer at your local shelter.
8. Investigate educational opportunities that would bridge your background to your new field. Consider taking an evening course at a local college. Spend some time at one day or weekend seminars. Contact professional groups in your target field for suggestions.
9. Look for ways to develop new skills in your current job which would pave the way for a change e.g. offer to write a grant proposal if grant writing is valued in your new field. If your company offers in-house training, sign up for as many classes as you can.
10. Consider alternative roles within your current industry which would utilize the industry knowledge you already have e.g. If you are a store manger for a large retail chain and have grown tired of the evening and weekend hours consider a move to corporate recruiting within the retail industry. Or if you are a programmer who doesn't want to program, consider technical sales or project management.
Tuesday, December 16, 2008
Monday, December 15, 2008
How to Profit from a Career Switch to the Non-Profit Sector - Mark Miller
For millions of Baby Boomers, retirement is an opportunity for reinvention, rather than taking it easy. Mark Miller is helping write the playbook for the new career and personal pursuits of a generation. Mark blogs at www.retirementrevised.com; contact him with questions and comments at mark@retirementrevised.com
Hey, all you laid-off, middle-aged bankers, accountants, programmers, marketers and other well-trained corporate types out there-listen up: Ever thought about working at a not-for profit?
The business world is crumbling all around us, but non-profits have been growing faster than either the business or government sector-and they’re facing a shortage of talent. Best of all, the non-profit sector is gradually waking up to the potential of encore career switchers-people who want to move into new lines of work with meaning in the second half of life.
The MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures reported in June that a big shift in focus already is well underway. They released a report showing that 5.3 to 8.4 million people between the ages of 44 and 70 are doing work that combines income and personal meaning with social impact, and noted that half of the people in this age group not already in encore careers see this as their future career direction. But are non-profit employers interested in hiring them? Last month, MetLife and Civic Ventures released a second wave of research, this time focused more specifically on non-profit employer attitudes. This study contained more good news for anyone contemplating a non-profit career move:
-Non-profits are worried about finding top talent as they grow; 42 percent see recruiting and hiring talent as a top concern.
-Non-profits that have experience hiring late-career or retired workers are more likely than other employers to see them as appealing candidates, by a margin of 53 to 40 percent, and they seem to like candidates who’ve switched to non-profits from the business world.
-Nearly 70 percent say encore workers bring valuable experience to non-profits. Non-profits are hardly immune to the effects of recession. Demand for their services will rise dramatically in the coming months and years as poverty levels and home foreclosures rise, yet they also face pressure on their own revenue sources. The bear market in stocks will force foundations to cut back on grants as their endowment portfolios shrink, and donations from frightened high-net-worth individuals will fall, too. But longer term, non-profits are expected to keep growing. In fact, the sector will need to hire 640,000 new senior managers by the year 2016, according to The Bridgespan Group, a strategic consulting firm that works with non-profits. And Bridgespan’s data shows that the total number of non-profit groups grew at a 6 percent annual rate from 1995-2004.
“All the data says there is a looming leadership deficit,” says David Simms, managing partner of RETIRE SMART Bridgestar, an arm of Bridgespan that recruits managers for non-profit positions. “That’s not to say there aren’t talented people already in the non-profit sector, because there are. But in terms of supply and demand, you have older boomers leaving to retire or simply to do something new. So there will be a lot of positions to fill.” Simms says job seekers don’t need to target only non-profits where they have subject expertise, or even a preexisting passion for the work. Employers, he says, are looking for people with functional expertise in areas like finance, technology, marketing and communications and general management. But transitioning to non-profit work does require some recalibrated thinking. He advises job-seekers to get their feet wet by volunteering or serving on the board of a non-profit, which can be a great way to learn about cultural and organizational differences.
Compensation also can be an adjustment. Pay may not be at Wall Street levels-that is, if there actually are any Wall Street jobs left for comparison. “They pay a bit less than the private sector, but it’s not like you have to survive on peanut butter,” Simms says.
Job-hunting techniques also need adjusting. Only 10 percent of non-profit openings are posted on any of the online job boards, although Bridgestar itself operates a site for non-profit senior management jobs that it hopes will grow into a major portal for these opportunities at http://www.bridgestar.org/Jobs/
And most non-profit hiring is local; candidates generally aren’t interested in relocating and most employers are too small to have funds available to pay for relocation. That makes local person-to-person networking the most important job-hunting tool, Simms says.
“Friends serving on boards of non-profits can be a great networking tool. Also think about your alumni association or your university’s career resources. Non-profits will often notify them of openings.” I’ve posted some additional non-profit jobhunting resources with the online version of this week’s column at http://retirementrevised.com.
(c) 2008 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
Hey, all you laid-off, middle-aged bankers, accountants, programmers, marketers and other well-trained corporate types out there-listen up: Ever thought about working at a not-for profit?
The business world is crumbling all around us, but non-profits have been growing faster than either the business or government sector-and they’re facing a shortage of talent. Best of all, the non-profit sector is gradually waking up to the potential of encore career switchers-people who want to move into new lines of work with meaning in the second half of life.
The MetLife Foundation and Civic Ventures reported in June that a big shift in focus already is well underway. They released a report showing that 5.3 to 8.4 million people between the ages of 44 and 70 are doing work that combines income and personal meaning with social impact, and noted that half of the people in this age group not already in encore careers see this as their future career direction. But are non-profit employers interested in hiring them? Last month, MetLife and Civic Ventures released a second wave of research, this time focused more specifically on non-profit employer attitudes. This study contained more good news for anyone contemplating a non-profit career move:
-Non-profits are worried about finding top talent as they grow; 42 percent see recruiting and hiring talent as a top concern.
-Non-profits that have experience hiring late-career or retired workers are more likely than other employers to see them as appealing candidates, by a margin of 53 to 40 percent, and they seem to like candidates who’ve switched to non-profits from the business world.
-Nearly 70 percent say encore workers bring valuable experience to non-profits. Non-profits are hardly immune to the effects of recession. Demand for their services will rise dramatically in the coming months and years as poverty levels and home foreclosures rise, yet they also face pressure on their own revenue sources. The bear market in stocks will force foundations to cut back on grants as their endowment portfolios shrink, and donations from frightened high-net-worth individuals will fall, too. But longer term, non-profits are expected to keep growing. In fact, the sector will need to hire 640,000 new senior managers by the year 2016, according to The Bridgespan Group, a strategic consulting firm that works with non-profits. And Bridgespan’s data shows that the total number of non-profit groups grew at a 6 percent annual rate from 1995-2004.
“All the data says there is a looming leadership deficit,” says David Simms, managing partner of RETIRE SMART Bridgestar, an arm of Bridgespan that recruits managers for non-profit positions. “That’s not to say there aren’t talented people already in the non-profit sector, because there are. But in terms of supply and demand, you have older boomers leaving to retire or simply to do something new. So there will be a lot of positions to fill.” Simms says job seekers don’t need to target only non-profits where they have subject expertise, or even a preexisting passion for the work. Employers, he says, are looking for people with functional expertise in areas like finance, technology, marketing and communications and general management. But transitioning to non-profit work does require some recalibrated thinking. He advises job-seekers to get their feet wet by volunteering or serving on the board of a non-profit, which can be a great way to learn about cultural and organizational differences.
Compensation also can be an adjustment. Pay may not be at Wall Street levels-that is, if there actually are any Wall Street jobs left for comparison. “They pay a bit less than the private sector, but it’s not like you have to survive on peanut butter,” Simms says.
Job-hunting techniques also need adjusting. Only 10 percent of non-profit openings are posted on any of the online job boards, although Bridgestar itself operates a site for non-profit senior management jobs that it hopes will grow into a major portal for these opportunities at http://www.bridgestar.org/Jobs/
And most non-profit hiring is local; candidates generally aren’t interested in relocating and most employers are too small to have funds available to pay for relocation. That makes local person-to-person networking the most important job-hunting tool, Simms says.
“Friends serving on boards of non-profits can be a great networking tool. Also think about your alumni association or your university’s career resources. Non-profits will often notify them of openings.” I’ve posted some additional non-profit jobhunting resources with the online version of this week’s column at http://retirementrevised.com.
(c) 2008 TRIBUNE MEDIA SERVICES, INC.
Thursday, December 11, 2008
Ten Tips for Surviving a Layoff - Lorelei Logsdon
Lorelei Logsdon is a 40 yr-old wife, mother, and freelance writer currently living in North Carolina. I am here to pursue my love of writing and to network with other writers (see http://www.ljlogsdon.com/)
Losing your job can be one of the most stressful life-events a person can go through. The fear of not being able to find another comparable job in order to provide for your family, the fear of losing your home, your vehicles, and the lifestyle you've become accustomed to, all contribute to this high level of stress.
Cyclical layoffs are a normal part of life within both the mortgage industry and entertainment industry, and since that's where most of my positions have been over the past 14 years, I've been laid off five times. I consider myself to be an authority on the subject simply from personal experience, and with the current state of the economy, it's very possible that you could come face-to-face with a layoff situation as well.
The first thing to understand is that being laid off is not a personal reflection on you. Layoffs are a reflection of the economy - whether globally, nationally, or just within your own industry. Layoffs are one instance where it helps to think of yourself as just a number, since nothing you did or could do would have any effect on the situation. Layoffs have absolutely nothing to do with you personally.
It's normal to feel a bit of panic once the reality of being laid off sets in, and to feel like life is spinning out of control. The trick is to use that negative energy in a positive way to help motivate you, instead of sitting back and just feeling sorry for yourself. It's at this crucial crossroad where you must take control of the situation and be proactive instead of reactive, because if you let fear and depression control you, you won't get very far. Put a positive spin on a negative situation by looking at the layoff as an opportunity to reassess your career goals and maybe realign yourself to your true interests. Surviving a layoff is all about being positive and proactive, instead of playing the part of a victim.
These 15 tips will help you not only to survive a layoff, but to come out on the other side even better for having gone through it.
Apply for unemployment benefits immediately, even if you think you won't be unemployed for very long. Do it while everything is fresh in your mind so that once things settle down you can use your time to focus on your career plan instead of on busywork.
Reassess your monthly budget and make cuts wherever you can, especially frivolous spending such as eating out, unnecessary driving, magazines, cable extras, snack foods, etc.
Don't overreact and end up making rash decisions you'll regret later. Don't rush into a new job, or immediately put your house on the market, or make any large decisions without giving ample rational thought to it first. Remember to think, not react.
Take a career development course to learn how to write an effective cover letter, craft an effective résumé, practice your interviewing skills, learn your strengths and weaknesses, take personality tests, and develop a career plan. If the company that laid you off offers this benefit as part of your severance package, make sure to take advantage of it. (A great example of this service can be found at http://www.right.com)
If your industry was hit particularly hard, think of other industries you can target for your job-search where your skills can be used. Skills in managing people and/or technologies, motivating, speaking, writing, record-keeping, and computer skills are examples of skills that can be used across many various industries. (For more on transferable skills, check out http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/a/transferable.htm)
Focus on networking instead of cold-calling or blindly mailing out your résumé. At least 70% of all jobs are acquired through some form of networking and referrals. Talk to people at church, your neighbors, other parents picking their kids up at school, those you meet at the grocery store or at your kid's little league game, or other patients waiting in the doctor's office. Every person you meet is a potential contact who could lead you to your next job. Keep notes with names, dates and basic information so you know who's calling if they contact you. Join local interest groups as another way to network in your area.
Prepare your own business cards on basic business-card stock from the office supply store. Provide your contact information and desired job title (i.e. "Project Manager," "C# Developer," "Web Designer," "Mortgage Consultant") and have an ample supply at-the-ready (in your car, in your wallet or purse, etc.) because you never know when you may need one.
Keep your sense of humor so that you don't allow yourself to get too far down. Trying to see the lighter side of a bad situation can help to alleviate the stress. Read the comics section of the newspaper, watch a silly cartoon with your kids, or borrow a funny book from a friend. Try to find something to laugh about every day.
Don't be too proud to ask for help from your family, friends, church, neighbors, etc. Most people are happy to help. If you need someone to watch the kids while you make some calls, or if you need a ride to an interview, or if you just need someone to talk to - don't hesitate to ask for what you need.
Pamper yourself for stress-reduction. Take a warm bubble bath, read a trashy novel, get a massage, take up walking with a neighbor, or borrow a movie you've always wanted to see from a friend. Give yourself permission to have down-time and to relax.
By following these tips you will eventually come to realize that being laid off is not the end of the world and you will come out all the stronger for having survived it. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on the ground, running!
Losing your job can be one of the most stressful life-events a person can go through. The fear of not being able to find another comparable job in order to provide for your family, the fear of losing your home, your vehicles, and the lifestyle you've become accustomed to, all contribute to this high level of stress.
Cyclical layoffs are a normal part of life within both the mortgage industry and entertainment industry, and since that's where most of my positions have been over the past 14 years, I've been laid off five times. I consider myself to be an authority on the subject simply from personal experience, and with the current state of the economy, it's very possible that you could come face-to-face with a layoff situation as well.
The first thing to understand is that being laid off is not a personal reflection on you. Layoffs are a reflection of the economy - whether globally, nationally, or just within your own industry. Layoffs are one instance where it helps to think of yourself as just a number, since nothing you did or could do would have any effect on the situation. Layoffs have absolutely nothing to do with you personally.
It's normal to feel a bit of panic once the reality of being laid off sets in, and to feel like life is spinning out of control. The trick is to use that negative energy in a positive way to help motivate you, instead of sitting back and just feeling sorry for yourself. It's at this crucial crossroad where you must take control of the situation and be proactive instead of reactive, because if you let fear and depression control you, you won't get very far. Put a positive spin on a negative situation by looking at the layoff as an opportunity to reassess your career goals and maybe realign yourself to your true interests. Surviving a layoff is all about being positive and proactive, instead of playing the part of a victim.
These 15 tips will help you not only to survive a layoff, but to come out on the other side even better for having gone through it.
Apply for unemployment benefits immediately, even if you think you won't be unemployed for very long. Do it while everything is fresh in your mind so that once things settle down you can use your time to focus on your career plan instead of on busywork.
Reassess your monthly budget and make cuts wherever you can, especially frivolous spending such as eating out, unnecessary driving, magazines, cable extras, snack foods, etc.
Don't overreact and end up making rash decisions you'll regret later. Don't rush into a new job, or immediately put your house on the market, or make any large decisions without giving ample rational thought to it first. Remember to think, not react.
Take a career development course to learn how to write an effective cover letter, craft an effective résumé, practice your interviewing skills, learn your strengths and weaknesses, take personality tests, and develop a career plan. If the company that laid you off offers this benefit as part of your severance package, make sure to take advantage of it. (A great example of this service can be found at http://www.right.com)
If your industry was hit particularly hard, think of other industries you can target for your job-search where your skills can be used. Skills in managing people and/or technologies, motivating, speaking, writing, record-keeping, and computer skills are examples of skills that can be used across many various industries. (For more on transferable skills, check out http://careerplanning.about.com/od/careerchoicechan/a/transferable.htm)
Focus on networking instead of cold-calling or blindly mailing out your résumé. At least 70% of all jobs are acquired through some form of networking and referrals. Talk to people at church, your neighbors, other parents picking their kids up at school, those you meet at the grocery store or at your kid's little league game, or other patients waiting in the doctor's office. Every person you meet is a potential contact who could lead you to your next job. Keep notes with names, dates and basic information so you know who's calling if they contact you. Join local interest groups as another way to network in your area.
Prepare your own business cards on basic business-card stock from the office supply store. Provide your contact information and desired job title (i.e. "Project Manager," "C# Developer," "Web Designer," "Mortgage Consultant") and have an ample supply at-the-ready (in your car, in your wallet or purse, etc.) because you never know when you may need one.
Keep your sense of humor so that you don't allow yourself to get too far down. Trying to see the lighter side of a bad situation can help to alleviate the stress. Read the comics section of the newspaper, watch a silly cartoon with your kids, or borrow a funny book from a friend. Try to find something to laugh about every day.
Don't be too proud to ask for help from your family, friends, church, neighbors, etc. Most people are happy to help. If you need someone to watch the kids while you make some calls, or if you need a ride to an interview, or if you just need someone to talk to - don't hesitate to ask for what you need.
Pamper yourself for stress-reduction. Take a warm bubble bath, read a trashy novel, get a massage, take up walking with a neighbor, or borrow a movie you've always wanted to see from a friend. Give yourself permission to have down-time and to relax.
By following these tips you will eventually come to realize that being laid off is not the end of the world and you will come out all the stronger for having survived it. So pick yourself up, dust yourself off, and get back on the ground, running!
Labels:
career,
career builder,
jobs,
reduction in force,
RIF
Wednesday, December 10, 2008
Wall Street Layoffs: What you Need to Know - Lyneka Little
Lyneka Little writes for MAINSTREET powered by THESTREET.COM.
'Tis the season for layoffs, but not all layoffs are created equal, and on Wall Street sometimes the way you are let go can be a violation of regulation rules.
Consider this hypothetical: “A trader or investment banker at a securities firm who has increased revenue and worked hard the entire year but is laid off prior to the date on which bonuses are paid has a strong claim,” says Michael Deutsch, co-founder of Singer Deutsch LLP, a Securities law firm. “A proprietary trader, for example, may have generated a substantial return on his or her book, yet the firm reaps all the profits without fairly compensating the employee.”
Sound shady to you? Some are interpreting massive financial service layoffs in the same way. As a result, individuals are seeking counsel to learn their rights.
In October, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the agency that oversees securities firms, saw an increase of all arbitration filings by nearly 50% compared to the same period last year.
“We have seen a tremendous influx of calls because firms have used this as an opportunity to avoid paying bonuses and there is no question in our minds that there are going to be increased claims,” says Deutsch.
Are you wondering about proper compensation due to a layoff in the securities industry? Here's what you need to know:
1. If you are a representative or a broker in the securities industry and you think you believe you have been laid off illegally, you may seek resolution using FINRA, says Brendan Intindola, spokesperson for FINRA.
2. If you’re a customer and you have a broker, and you believe think your broker has done something wrong, you can address the issue by filing an arbitration claim at FINRA, says Intindola.
To file a claim for Breach of Conduct or numerous other reasons, FINRA offers an arbitration online filing system. (The typical claim may take 6 to 13 months for resolution.)
Retaining a lawyer is not necessary, but you might consider an attorney to “ascertain what your rights are to know if it would be productive to file a claim and to learn what your causes of action are,” says Deutsch.
'Tis the season for layoffs, but not all layoffs are created equal, and on Wall Street sometimes the way you are let go can be a violation of regulation rules.
Consider this hypothetical: “A trader or investment banker at a securities firm who has increased revenue and worked hard the entire year but is laid off prior to the date on which bonuses are paid has a strong claim,” says Michael Deutsch, co-founder of Singer Deutsch LLP, a Securities law firm. “A proprietary trader, for example, may have generated a substantial return on his or her book, yet the firm reaps all the profits without fairly compensating the employee.”
Sound shady to you? Some are interpreting massive financial service layoffs in the same way. As a result, individuals are seeking counsel to learn their rights.
In October, the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, the agency that oversees securities firms, saw an increase of all arbitration filings by nearly 50% compared to the same period last year.
“We have seen a tremendous influx of calls because firms have used this as an opportunity to avoid paying bonuses and there is no question in our minds that there are going to be increased claims,” says Deutsch.
Are you wondering about proper compensation due to a layoff in the securities industry? Here's what you need to know:
1. If you are a representative or a broker in the securities industry and you think you believe you have been laid off illegally, you may seek resolution using FINRA, says Brendan Intindola, spokesperson for FINRA.
2. If you’re a customer and you have a broker, and you believe think your broker has done something wrong, you can address the issue by filing an arbitration claim at FINRA, says Intindola.
To file a claim for Breach of Conduct or numerous other reasons, FINRA offers an arbitration online filing system. (The typical claim may take 6 to 13 months for resolution.)
Retaining a lawyer is not necessary, but you might consider an attorney to “ascertain what your rights are to know if it would be productive to file a claim and to learn what your causes of action are,” says Deutsch.
Three Tips to Benefit from the Wall Street Collapse - Joe Turner
As a recruiter, Joe Turner has spent the past 15 years finding and placing top candidates in some of the best jobs of their careers. Author of Job Search Secrets Unlocked and Paycheck 911, Joe has interviewed on radio talk shows and offers free insider job search secrets at: www.jobchangesecrets.com .
The current economic meltdown is just the tip of a much larger iceberg that will have far reaching economic implications for all of us here in the U.S. Tens of thousands of layoffs in and beyond the financial industry will only be the start of more sober times as companies across the country will be forced to rethink their future hiring plans.
One fact seems certain. All of these circumstances will combine to have huge ramifications for job seekers. The failing economy and a constantly rising unemployment rate will require individuals to take a fresh approach to their job search.
Referencing the most recent economic crisis, Neil McNulty, Principal Recruiter, McNulty Management Group states, "The game has changed, but the rules remain the same: now, more than ever, job seekers need to change their mindset from looking for ‘openings’ to looking for ‘opportunities’... and opportunities are borne out of crisis and chaos, and exist even in the worst economy."
This means that you, as a job seeker, must look beyond job postings and move into marketing yourself to the managers of the companies and organizations who are experiencing problems that you can solve.
1) Change Your Mindset
Move away from being a passive job seeker to an active problem-solver. Don’t just rely on the internet to find job openings. Scour the marketplace to find the hidden jobs that aren’t advertised. Most jobs are not posted or advertised. The best jobs are often found through networking, word-of-mouth and informational interviews.
2) Stop Thinking of Yourself as Just an Assortment of Job Skills.
See yourself as a product to package and market, and then create your own marketing campaign to find your desired job. This includes having a state-of-the-art resume, and sharpening your interviewing skills.
3) Sell ROI
View yourself in terms of Return on Investment for an employer. See yourself as a mini-profit and loss center. Be prepared to demonstrate ways you have helped to positively impact the bottom line of your past or current employer. This means demonstrating ways you've helped make money or save money for an employer or clients. As employees, we all touch money. Some of us may be closer to it than others. Regardless, we must find ways to prove this in short "sound bites" when given the opportunity.
Remember, it’s not about you, but about the employer. All communication with a prospective employer must answer the question, “What’s in it for me?”
The road ahead will be littered with casualties, no mistake about that. We could sit by and whine about the circumstances. We could wait for the government to initiate a "bailout" package that might somehow rescue the unemployed. Or, we could take charge of our own lives and power ourselves forward regardless of the hysteria of others. Joseph P. Kennedy said many years ago, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. That statement is just as true today as it was then. We all share this rocky, tough economy in common, whether employed or not. We can respond as victims of the economy or we can get tough and get going.
The current economic meltdown is just the tip of a much larger iceberg that will have far reaching economic implications for all of us here in the U.S. Tens of thousands of layoffs in and beyond the financial industry will only be the start of more sober times as companies across the country will be forced to rethink their future hiring plans.
One fact seems certain. All of these circumstances will combine to have huge ramifications for job seekers. The failing economy and a constantly rising unemployment rate will require individuals to take a fresh approach to their job search.
Referencing the most recent economic crisis, Neil McNulty, Principal Recruiter, McNulty Management Group states, "The game has changed, but the rules remain the same: now, more than ever, job seekers need to change their mindset from looking for ‘openings’ to looking for ‘opportunities’... and opportunities are borne out of crisis and chaos, and exist even in the worst economy."
This means that you, as a job seeker, must look beyond job postings and move into marketing yourself to the managers of the companies and organizations who are experiencing problems that you can solve.
1) Change Your Mindset
Move away from being a passive job seeker to an active problem-solver. Don’t just rely on the internet to find job openings. Scour the marketplace to find the hidden jobs that aren’t advertised. Most jobs are not posted or advertised. The best jobs are often found through networking, word-of-mouth and informational interviews.
2) Stop Thinking of Yourself as Just an Assortment of Job Skills.
See yourself as a product to package and market, and then create your own marketing campaign to find your desired job. This includes having a state-of-the-art resume, and sharpening your interviewing skills.
3) Sell ROI
View yourself in terms of Return on Investment for an employer. See yourself as a mini-profit and loss center. Be prepared to demonstrate ways you have helped to positively impact the bottom line of your past or current employer. This means demonstrating ways you've helped make money or save money for an employer or clients. As employees, we all touch money. Some of us may be closer to it than others. Regardless, we must find ways to prove this in short "sound bites" when given the opportunity.
Remember, it’s not about you, but about the employer. All communication with a prospective employer must answer the question, “What’s in it for me?”
The road ahead will be littered with casualties, no mistake about that. We could sit by and whine about the circumstances. We could wait for the government to initiate a "bailout" package that might somehow rescue the unemployed. Or, we could take charge of our own lives and power ourselves forward regardless of the hysteria of others. Joseph P. Kennedy said many years ago, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going”. That statement is just as true today as it was then. We all share this rocky, tough economy in common, whether employed or not. We can respond as victims of the economy or we can get tough and get going.
Labels:
career,
career builder,
jobs,
reduction in force,
RIF
Tuesday, December 9, 2008
Five Ways to Make Starting a New Career Less Scary - Leslie Godwin
Leslie Godwin, MFCC, is a Career & Life-Transition Coach specializing in helping people put their families, values, and principles first when making career and life choices. Leslie is the author of, "From Burned Out to Fired Up: A Woman's Guide to Rekindling the Passion and Meaning in Work and Life" published by Health Communications. For more information, go to www.LeslieGodwin.com.
If you believe most of the current magazines that profile successful entrepreneurs or others with high-profile careers, then you probably think that the best way to change careers is to close your eyes, max out your credit cards, and leap off the cliff. While that makes for a great story, the truth is quite different, and less risky. Most people that have changed careers successfully have done one or more of the following.
Here are five ways to make starting your new career less scary and more rewarding:
1. Planning And Clarity Make The Unknown Known...And Less Scary
What type of career change will meet your needs? Slow down and explore as many options as possible. Marci Taub, co-author of Work Smart: 250 Smart Moves Your Boss Already Knows, notes that it is important to "clarify whether you need a full career change, a career shift, or an industry or sector change before you leap."
The more specific your plans, the less scary they are. Find out as much as you can about your prospective career. This could include: the number of working hours typical of that career, any specialized training you'll need, and if there's a lot of burnout in that field. Another reason to plan ahead: the higher the risk of your new venture, the more planning you need to do to increase your chances for success.
2. Talk To Others Who Have Changed Careers Lately
If you are working in a secure job for a large company, you are probably surrounded by others working in secure jobs for a large company. These are not the people who can give you advice about changing careers. Even worse is hanging around with disgruntled types because they support your ideas about leaving. Their unhappiness can be contagious. The fact that they are miserable but not willing to do anything about it but complain confirms that they have nothing to teach you.
On the other hand, if you talk to people who have just made the change to a career that is meaningful and satisfying to them, they have a wealth of information that will be useful and motivating. Find out what their concerns were, and how they've handled them. What would they do differently? What do they recommend for your situation? Talk to enough people that you get an overview of what it takes to make it in a new career.
3. Talk To Others Who Have Long-Since Changed Careers
Temper the enthusiasm and optimism of those who have just made the change, with the wisdom and depth of experience of those who see the big picture. When you talk to people who made a significant career change quite a while ago, you learn what works over the long-run, and what to do when the excitement wears off. Do they still like what they do? What challenges took them by surprise, and how did they respond? How much of their success was due to their own efforts as opposed to being in the right place at the right time? Keep asking different people until you notice patterns of how the process unfolds for most people.
4. Soul-Searching Prevents Making The Same Mistakes In New Career
Don't just use your intellect; use your intuition. To soul-search means to contemplate your situation based on what your SOUL cares about. That might include:
-your quality of life
-the meaning behind what you do
-spending time on what you care about
-understanding that your life has a deeper purpose than just making a living
-Depending on your personality, you may need to do more or less soul-searching.
If you tend to act impulsively, and seem to continually end up in similar problematic situations, you need to do MORE. Therapy or career coaching can help you better understand why you want to make a change, and can help you ensure that you aren¹t just running from one bad situation to one that¹s even worse.
But if you tend to agonize over every decision, large or small, and would much prefer to think through every detail until the opportunity is no longer available, you may need to do LESS contemplating and more doing.
True insight and curiosity about what makes you tick doesn't lead to endless procrastination. In fact, the better you know yourself, the less likely it is that you'll allow yourself to be tripped up with insecurities or needing to prove yourself to others.
5. Put Your Career In A Larger Context
If you define yourself by your job title, salary level, or other aspect of your career, making a change will feel like changing your identity. However, if you see your place in the universe defined by more than your job, you'll have a sense of simply taking a new step down your unique path.
How can you make your career change less scary? There are lots of ways. These are just a few. I hope they get you started on your ongoing journey. Let that journey include understanding yourself better all the time and making career choices that enhance ALL aspects of your life.
If you believe most of the current magazines that profile successful entrepreneurs or others with high-profile careers, then you probably think that the best way to change careers is to close your eyes, max out your credit cards, and leap off the cliff. While that makes for a great story, the truth is quite different, and less risky. Most people that have changed careers successfully have done one or more of the following.
Here are five ways to make starting your new career less scary and more rewarding:
1. Planning And Clarity Make The Unknown Known...And Less Scary
What type of career change will meet your needs? Slow down and explore as many options as possible. Marci Taub, co-author of Work Smart: 250 Smart Moves Your Boss Already Knows, notes that it is important to "clarify whether you need a full career change, a career shift, or an industry or sector change before you leap."
The more specific your plans, the less scary they are. Find out as much as you can about your prospective career. This could include: the number of working hours typical of that career, any specialized training you'll need, and if there's a lot of burnout in that field. Another reason to plan ahead: the higher the risk of your new venture, the more planning you need to do to increase your chances for success.
2. Talk To Others Who Have Changed Careers Lately
If you are working in a secure job for a large company, you are probably surrounded by others working in secure jobs for a large company. These are not the people who can give you advice about changing careers. Even worse is hanging around with disgruntled types because they support your ideas about leaving. Their unhappiness can be contagious. The fact that they are miserable but not willing to do anything about it but complain confirms that they have nothing to teach you.
On the other hand, if you talk to people who have just made the change to a career that is meaningful and satisfying to them, they have a wealth of information that will be useful and motivating. Find out what their concerns were, and how they've handled them. What would they do differently? What do they recommend for your situation? Talk to enough people that you get an overview of what it takes to make it in a new career.
3. Talk To Others Who Have Long-Since Changed Careers
Temper the enthusiasm and optimism of those who have just made the change, with the wisdom and depth of experience of those who see the big picture. When you talk to people who made a significant career change quite a while ago, you learn what works over the long-run, and what to do when the excitement wears off. Do they still like what they do? What challenges took them by surprise, and how did they respond? How much of their success was due to their own efforts as opposed to being in the right place at the right time? Keep asking different people until you notice patterns of how the process unfolds for most people.
4. Soul-Searching Prevents Making The Same Mistakes In New Career
Don't just use your intellect; use your intuition. To soul-search means to contemplate your situation based on what your SOUL cares about. That might include:
-your quality of life
-the meaning behind what you do
-spending time on what you care about
-understanding that your life has a deeper purpose than just making a living
-Depending on your personality, you may need to do more or less soul-searching.
If you tend to act impulsively, and seem to continually end up in similar problematic situations, you need to do MORE. Therapy or career coaching can help you better understand why you want to make a change, and can help you ensure that you aren¹t just running from one bad situation to one that¹s even worse.
But if you tend to agonize over every decision, large or small, and would much prefer to think through every detail until the opportunity is no longer available, you may need to do LESS contemplating and more doing.
True insight and curiosity about what makes you tick doesn't lead to endless procrastination. In fact, the better you know yourself, the less likely it is that you'll allow yourself to be tripped up with insecurities or needing to prove yourself to others.
5. Put Your Career In A Larger Context
If you define yourself by your job title, salary level, or other aspect of your career, making a change will feel like changing your identity. However, if you see your place in the universe defined by more than your job, you'll have a sense of simply taking a new step down your unique path.
How can you make your career change less scary? There are lots of ways. These are just a few. I hope they get you started on your ongoing journey. Let that journey include understanding yourself better all the time and making career choices that enhance ALL aspects of your life.
Labels:
career,
career builder,
jobs,
reduction in force,
RIF
Friday, December 5, 2008
Bad Choices Can Lead to Good Ones - Anonymous
Your career is a series of choices. Some are good and some are not so good. But either way, you are the person doing the choosing. At times it may feel like you have no choice, or someone else is making the choices for you, but the truth is you have more power over what you choose than you think you do.
What going on in your career? Frustration? Boredom? Exhaustion? Things we all deal with in today’s workplace. (It’s good to know that you are not alone.)
If your career is not where you want it to be, it’s up to you to do something about it. The old cliché, “Good things come to those who wait,” hurts more than it helps. It gets you off the hook because you believe things will happen on their own over time. Action is what gets results. Not waiting.
So what are you choosing? Are you choosing to work on making more money or quietly wishing a raise will come to you? Are you choosing to update your resume or letting being busy prevail? Are you actively choosing to discover what your true passion is or are you hoping the answer will magically appear? The choices you make today will determine whether you are happy or not tomorrow.
In order to go forward, sometimes you have to go back. Once you can accept where you have been, then you can make plans to move forward. Look at your career. Where have your choices led you?
Have Bad Choices Led To Regret?
Everyone has something in their career they wish they’d done differently. Maybe you misspoke in an interview or a meeting and you blew an opportunity. Maybe you could have negotiated a bigger salary but you did not. Maybe you ran into someone in your career who could have helped you move to greater heights but you failed to ask for help. Again, know that you are not alone. Bad choices are something we all share. It’s not what happens to you in your career that matter, but how you recover from it. Have you moved on, or are you replaying every moment over again in your mind? Replays are for sports, not for your career. Let it go so you can move on to something better.
Have Bad Choices Led To A Bad Attitude?
Are you fun to be around? Or, do people ignore you? What kind of vibe are you sending at work or on interviews? Believe you are hiding a bad attitude? Your belief is wrong. People can pick it up from a mile away. No one can hide unhappiness or anger. You may think that you have a right to be gloomy, but the person you are hurting the most is you. No one cares that you are upset. They do care that you are being difficult. Want to shake things up in your career and see real results? Become a more positive person. This one act alone can transform your career.
Have Bad Choices Led To Fear?
What are you afraid of? Afraid to ask for more money or resources? Afraid to speak up in meetings? Afraid to call people you know to see if they have a job opportunity for you? Afraid to go after your passion? Fear is normal. You wouldn’t be alive without it. But there is a difference between being afraid and letting fear paralyze you. Even though you are busy, you know yourself pretty well. You know when fear is getting in the way. The question is what you will do about it. Will you let fear win or not?
Start Making Good Choices.
Until you make better choices, your old choices will continue to haunt you. Start today by making one good choice. One choice will lead to two and so on. You have to start somewhere, so start where you are right now. Good choices made over time will lead you to a more fulfilling career.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
What going on in your career? Frustration? Boredom? Exhaustion? Things we all deal with in today’s workplace. (It’s good to know that you are not alone.)
If your career is not where you want it to be, it’s up to you to do something about it. The old cliché, “Good things come to those who wait,” hurts more than it helps. It gets you off the hook because you believe things will happen on their own over time. Action is what gets results. Not waiting.
So what are you choosing? Are you choosing to work on making more money or quietly wishing a raise will come to you? Are you choosing to update your resume or letting being busy prevail? Are you actively choosing to discover what your true passion is or are you hoping the answer will magically appear? The choices you make today will determine whether you are happy or not tomorrow.
In order to go forward, sometimes you have to go back. Once you can accept where you have been, then you can make plans to move forward. Look at your career. Where have your choices led you?
Have Bad Choices Led To Regret?
Everyone has something in their career they wish they’d done differently. Maybe you misspoke in an interview or a meeting and you blew an opportunity. Maybe you could have negotiated a bigger salary but you did not. Maybe you ran into someone in your career who could have helped you move to greater heights but you failed to ask for help. Again, know that you are not alone. Bad choices are something we all share. It’s not what happens to you in your career that matter, but how you recover from it. Have you moved on, or are you replaying every moment over again in your mind? Replays are for sports, not for your career. Let it go so you can move on to something better.
Have Bad Choices Led To A Bad Attitude?
Are you fun to be around? Or, do people ignore you? What kind of vibe are you sending at work or on interviews? Believe you are hiding a bad attitude? Your belief is wrong. People can pick it up from a mile away. No one can hide unhappiness or anger. You may think that you have a right to be gloomy, but the person you are hurting the most is you. No one cares that you are upset. They do care that you are being difficult. Want to shake things up in your career and see real results? Become a more positive person. This one act alone can transform your career.
Have Bad Choices Led To Fear?
What are you afraid of? Afraid to ask for more money or resources? Afraid to speak up in meetings? Afraid to call people you know to see if they have a job opportunity for you? Afraid to go after your passion? Fear is normal. You wouldn’t be alive without it. But there is a difference between being afraid and letting fear paralyze you. Even though you are busy, you know yourself pretty well. You know when fear is getting in the way. The question is what you will do about it. Will you let fear win or not?
Start Making Good Choices.
Until you make better choices, your old choices will continue to haunt you. Start today by making one good choice. One choice will lead to two and so on. You have to start somewhere, so start where you are right now. Good choices made over time will lead you to a more fulfilling career.
So, what do you say? You only have one life to live, so it might as well be a life you love!
Thursday, December 4, 2008
How to Handle the Job Offer You Can't Afford - Joann S. Lublin
Joann S. Lublin writes for the CAREER STRATEGIES section of the online version of the Wall Street Journal wsj.com.
Earlier this year, Mark Cummuta walked away from a chance to become the No. 2 executive of a Chicago technology consultancy -- for less than $100,000. As the sole breadwinner and father of triplets, Mr. Cummuta couldn't afford a nearly 20% cut in pay, compared with what he was earning as an independent management consultant.
He's still looking for a permanent position. "Every now and then, I hit myself and say, 'I should have taken that offer,'" concedes the consultant, who has helped several firms navigate difficult times since 2003.
Unfortunately, Mr. Cummuta is hardly unique. More battered businesses are giving new hires less money than they made in their last job. "I am seeing that a lot more," says April M. Williams, a career coach in Algonquin, Ill. Puny amounts flabbergast some of her clients.
"As the downturn deepens, an increasing number of job seekers will find themselves getting lower-paying offers," says Mark Royal, a senior consultant at Hay Group. "We are on the cusp of a trend."
But excess eagerness to toil for fewer bucks sends the wrong signal. Such applicants often "are really desperate," says Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a boutique chain in San Francisco.
Rather than immediately reject or accept a lowball deal, you should mount a careful counterattack, experts recommend. You could improve your chances of winning a satisfactory compromise, with tradeoffs ranging from a faster pay review to extra perquisites.
Arm yourself with data about the going rate for your position by trolling Web sites such as salary.com, indeed.com/salary, salaryexpert.com and glassdoor.com. You'll see whether a concern "has poor information about the external market" and rewards staffers below prevailing levels, says Robin Pinkley, a professor at Southern Methodist University's business school and author of books about pay negotiations.
As part of your homework, you must grasp a potential employer's problems so you can promote yourself as a problem solver worth more than the proposed skimpy pay. "To negotiate in tough times, you have to be able to create a vision," says Jim Camp, an author and president of Camp Group, a negotiation-consulting firm in Dublin, Ohio.
A big New York law firm recently agreed to hire an Ohio lawyer for $140 an hour, $40 an hour less than he was earning. The firm blamed tough times. But the attorney knew he could provide important client referrals, recalls Mr. Camp, who coached him. "What number would I be paid if I brought a million-dollar client?" the candidate asked firm officials.
"If you're a rainmaker, the numbers change," they replied, according to Mr. Camp. After further interviews, the firm raised his starting pay to $240 an hour. He began last summer.
A West Coast executive took this tactic a step further. Keen to enter senior management several years ago, she hoped to accept a vice presidency at a midsize manufacturer -- and keep making over $300,000 a year. But the concern offered less than $200,000, the same cash compensation it gave other VPs.
The woman prepared a Power Point presentation for the chief executive, highlighting accomplishments he didn't know about and describing ways she might bolster customer satisfaction. She says she also sold him on a quarterly bonus plan for herself, linked to measurable milestones needed for the manufacturer's long-term growth.
The CEO enlarged her package by nearly $25,000. And she racked up bonuses fast enough that she was paid nearly $300,000 within a year. "It was a win-win for the company," she notes.
Some job hunters weighing lower offers bargain for alternative rewards, such as flexible hours, extra vacation, special training or a gym membership. Not everyone can long survive on a shrunken paycheck, however.
PeaceKeeper Cause-Metrics, a small cosmetics distributor, offered Stephanie S. Hayano a $50,000 salary to be its chief operating officer starting last January. She previously earned $300,000 a year running Natural Health Trends Corp. The puny pay wouldn't have even covered mortgages for her three residences. "Unless I was prepared to totally change my lifestyle, $50,000 was not in the cards," Ms. Hayano says.
She assumed the COO title at the New York firm, but gets compensated as a part-time consultant and retains other consulting gigs.
It's a good idea to assess the long-term career impact of toiling for less. Younger individuals, for instance, might get a valuable opportunity to build their résumés.
That proved true for Sanjay Gupta. In 1994, the 26-year-old senior marketing analyst accepted 10% lower pay when he transferred to a database marketing job at his employer, FedEx Corp. He and his wife were forced to dine out less often. However, Mr. Gupta says that he gained experience "with every facet of marketing," a critical skill for becoming a chief marketing officer of a big business some day. He achieved that title last March, when GMAC Financial Services named him CMO.
Earlier this year, Mark Cummuta walked away from a chance to become the No. 2 executive of a Chicago technology consultancy -- for less than $100,000. As the sole breadwinner and father of triplets, Mr. Cummuta couldn't afford a nearly 20% cut in pay, compared with what he was earning as an independent management consultant.
He's still looking for a permanent position. "Every now and then, I hit myself and say, 'I should have taken that offer,'" concedes the consultant, who has helped several firms navigate difficult times since 2003.
Unfortunately, Mr. Cummuta is hardly unique. More battered businesses are giving new hires less money than they made in their last job. "I am seeing that a lot more," says April M. Williams, a career coach in Algonquin, Ill. Puny amounts flabbergast some of her clients.
"As the downturn deepens, an increasing number of job seekers will find themselves getting lower-paying offers," says Mark Royal, a senior consultant at Hay Group. "We are on the cusp of a trend."
But excess eagerness to toil for fewer bucks sends the wrong signal. Such applicants often "are really desperate," says Niki Leondakis, chief operating officer at Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, a boutique chain in San Francisco.
Rather than immediately reject or accept a lowball deal, you should mount a careful counterattack, experts recommend. You could improve your chances of winning a satisfactory compromise, with tradeoffs ranging from a faster pay review to extra perquisites.
Arm yourself with data about the going rate for your position by trolling Web sites such as salary.com, indeed.com/salary, salaryexpert.com and glassdoor.com. You'll see whether a concern "has poor information about the external market" and rewards staffers below prevailing levels, says Robin Pinkley, a professor at Southern Methodist University's business school and author of books about pay negotiations.
As part of your homework, you must grasp a potential employer's problems so you can promote yourself as a problem solver worth more than the proposed skimpy pay. "To negotiate in tough times, you have to be able to create a vision," says Jim Camp, an author and president of Camp Group, a negotiation-consulting firm in Dublin, Ohio.
A big New York law firm recently agreed to hire an Ohio lawyer for $140 an hour, $40 an hour less than he was earning. The firm blamed tough times. But the attorney knew he could provide important client referrals, recalls Mr. Camp, who coached him. "What number would I be paid if I brought a million-dollar client?" the candidate asked firm officials.
"If you're a rainmaker, the numbers change," they replied, according to Mr. Camp. After further interviews, the firm raised his starting pay to $240 an hour. He began last summer.
A West Coast executive took this tactic a step further. Keen to enter senior management several years ago, she hoped to accept a vice presidency at a midsize manufacturer -- and keep making over $300,000 a year. But the concern offered less than $200,000, the same cash compensation it gave other VPs.
The woman prepared a Power Point presentation for the chief executive, highlighting accomplishments he didn't know about and describing ways she might bolster customer satisfaction. She says she also sold him on a quarterly bonus plan for herself, linked to measurable milestones needed for the manufacturer's long-term growth.
The CEO enlarged her package by nearly $25,000. And she racked up bonuses fast enough that she was paid nearly $300,000 within a year. "It was a win-win for the company," she notes.
Some job hunters weighing lower offers bargain for alternative rewards, such as flexible hours, extra vacation, special training or a gym membership. Not everyone can long survive on a shrunken paycheck, however.
PeaceKeeper Cause-Metrics, a small cosmetics distributor, offered Stephanie S. Hayano a $50,000 salary to be its chief operating officer starting last January. She previously earned $300,000 a year running Natural Health Trends Corp. The puny pay wouldn't have even covered mortgages for her three residences. "Unless I was prepared to totally change my lifestyle, $50,000 was not in the cards," Ms. Hayano says.
She assumed the COO title at the New York firm, but gets compensated as a part-time consultant and retains other consulting gigs.
It's a good idea to assess the long-term career impact of toiling for less. Younger individuals, for instance, might get a valuable opportunity to build their résumés.
That proved true for Sanjay Gupta. In 1994, the 26-year-old senior marketing analyst accepted 10% lower pay when he transferred to a database marketing job at his employer, FedEx Corp. He and his wife were forced to dine out less often. However, Mr. Gupta says that he gained experience "with every facet of marketing," a critical skill for becoming a chief marketing officer of a big business some day. He achieved that title last March, when GMAC Financial Services named him CMO.
Labels:
career,
career builder,
jobs,
reduction in force,
RIF
Wednesday, December 3, 2008
The Stress of Unemployment: Managing the Emotional Roller Coaster - Nancy Collamer
Nancy Collamer M.S. is a career counselor and founder of Jobsandmoms.com, a website for professional-level women who are looking for flexible jobs, work-at-home opportunities and innovative work/life resources.
She is the Author of the book, "The Layoff Survival Guide."
It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear . . . It's like being between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to.-- Marilyn Ferguson
This book is a “how-to” guide focused on practical steps to take to better manage the transition from pink-slip to paycheck. Consequently until now, I’ve focused on the more tangible aspects of managing your unemployment. But at this juncture, I would be remiss, if I were to go any further without discussing the emotional impact of being unemployed.
Much has been written on this topic and some of it is quite good. But I can tell you from having been through this myself; you don’t need a book to tell you being unemployed is lousy. Even under the best of circumstances; when you’ve got ample savings, decent job prospects, and a healthy severance package, there’s no denying the unemployment blues. I’ve read those articles telling you to look at this time as “a gift”, an “opportunity to explore untapped horizons” and a “welcome retreat from the rat race.” While all of that may be true; when you’ve got a family to feed, a mortgage to pay and no good job prospects in sight, it can be mighty hard to look at this as a “golden” opportunity to feed your soul.
Losing your job is a life-changing event, a major transition characterized by many of the same stages that occur when there is a death in the family. If you speak to people who have been through this, they will tell you there are some predictable stages of mourning during job loss, similar to the grieving process:
Shock and denial: Even if the news of your job loss was expected, you may have experienced a feeling of shock or confusion when you heard the words coming out of your boss’s mouth. Don’t expect the shock to subside immediately - once you’ve processed the news on a conscious level, the shock waves may continue to reverberate for a while.
Anger: You may get angry with yourself, your employer and even your family. It’s not unusual for people to react with feelings of anger; voicing their frustration with comments like, “I can’t believe they could do this to me” or “How could I be so stupid to allow myself to be in this situation?”
Bargaining: Don’t be surprised if you find yourself thinking, “Maybe if I offer to take a pay cut or propose working part-time or… they’ll consider taking me back.” Over time this wishful thinking form of bargaining will be replaced by a more realistic action-based plan.
Depression: Particularly if your job search takes longer than expected, depression may set in. Depression clouds your thinking, saps your energy and undermines the job search. While some periods of feeling depressed are normal, consistent depression may need to be treated by a professional.
Acceptance: With time, acceptance of the situation as it is, as opposed to what you would like it to be, will begin to take hold. The "acceptance" stage is the best place to be when starting a job search, but you might not have the luxury of waiting until this point to begin your search.
No two people work through grief in the same way or at the same pace. As you cycle through the grief process and get deeper into the job search, expect to have good days and bad days. You may have moments of total panic interspersed with moments of quiet acceptance, feelings of helplessness and thoughts of “Is this ever going to end?,” followed by days when it looks like everything is going to fall right into place.
Unemployment is a bumpy, unpredictable emotional roller-coaster ride. And, while you can’t change the unpredictable nature of the ride, there are steps you can take to better manage your reaction to the peaks and valleys you’ll inevitably experience.
Ways to Manage Fear and Depression
Don’t compare yourself to others: The impact of job loss varies from person to person. It’s likely that a single 25 year-old who lives at home and is thinking about going back to graduate school will react to his/her job loss with a different intensity than a 40 year-old single mother who is laid off from the only job she has ever held. But, it’s also true that two people in similar situations may have two totally different reactions to their common loss. Each individual is unique and reacts with a wide range of emotions and behaviors; there is no one right way to handle this transition.
Become part of a support group: As wonderful as family and friends can be, many people find that joining a support group of peers is the most valuable support of all. Interacting with a group of people, who are in your situation and can fully understand what you’re going through, can be an invaluable aid in helping you maintain perspective and a sense of humor during your search.
Be honest about your emotions: Admitting your anger, fear, and frustrations to your support group is the first step toward managing your emotions instead of letting them control you.
Name and Claim the Enemy: Rather than walking around with a vague but continual sense of anxiety, try to figure out what specific things worry you most. By facing what you actually fear (i.e., financial instability, concerns that you’ll never find a comparable position) you can see how realistic your fears are and begin to work on a plan for addressing those issues.
Recognize that Luck Plays a Role in this Process: While it’s hard not to wonder why your friend landed a job quickly while you’re still looking, the answer is that every person’s search proceeds at a unique pace. Luck, timing, market opportunities and a hundred other factors conspire together in mysterious ways. Remember the saying,
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Avoid Negative People: A group of pessimistic nay-sayers will do nothing but reinforce your worst fears. Align yourself with friends and colleagues who think more of you than you think of yourself – their suggestions will inspire, empower, and encourage you to move on in the face of rejection. Sometimes though, even the best-intentioned people don’t know what to say and as a result usually end up saying the wrong thing. Try to remember their intentions are honorable, even if their actions are less than helpful.
Take Care of Yourself: Mom was right; it’s important to take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, exercise and eat well. Don’t allow yourself to mope around the house in pajamas all day – project an image that reinforces a positive outlook.
Focus on the Positive: While you can’t change events, you can change how you react to them. Instead of focusing on the negatives on your life, take note of the positive side of unemployment. Whether it’s the opportunity to spend more time with your children, having a chance to explore new career directions or simply being able to sleep past 6 a.m., there is undoubtedly something positive to recognize during this difficult transition.
Keep Busy: There is nothing more depressing than staring at an empty calendar. Schedule your job search activities (i.e., 10 a.m.– 11 a.m.: make cold calls, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.: work on revising resume, etc.) as you would normal business appointments. If you have blocks of unused time, look in the newspaper for listings of business related meetings, trade shows or seminars that you might be able to attend. Go to the library. Force yourself to get out of the house.
Volunteer: By helping others, you’ll help yourself feel more valued. Even if it’s only a few hours each month, the psychological boost of helping those less fortunate can be significant.
Seek professional help: If your sadness feels very profound and does not seem to improve, consider getting professional help. The cost of ignoring depression can be far greater than the cost of getting treatment. Consult your local mental health clinics, social services agencies or professional counselors for help for yourself and family members who are affected by your unemployment. Some assistance may be covered by your health insurance or, if you do not have insurance, counseling is often available on a "sliding scale" fee, based on income.
She is the Author of the book, "The Layoff Survival Guide."
It's not so much that we're afraid of change or so in love with the old ways, but it's that place in between that we fear . . . It's like being between trapezes. It's Linus when his blanket is in the dryer. There's nothing to hold on to.-- Marilyn Ferguson
This book is a “how-to” guide focused on practical steps to take to better manage the transition from pink-slip to paycheck. Consequently until now, I’ve focused on the more tangible aspects of managing your unemployment. But at this juncture, I would be remiss, if I were to go any further without discussing the emotional impact of being unemployed.
Much has been written on this topic and some of it is quite good. But I can tell you from having been through this myself; you don’t need a book to tell you being unemployed is lousy. Even under the best of circumstances; when you’ve got ample savings, decent job prospects, and a healthy severance package, there’s no denying the unemployment blues. I’ve read those articles telling you to look at this time as “a gift”, an “opportunity to explore untapped horizons” and a “welcome retreat from the rat race.” While all of that may be true; when you’ve got a family to feed, a mortgage to pay and no good job prospects in sight, it can be mighty hard to look at this as a “golden” opportunity to feed your soul.
Losing your job is a life-changing event, a major transition characterized by many of the same stages that occur when there is a death in the family. If you speak to people who have been through this, they will tell you there are some predictable stages of mourning during job loss, similar to the grieving process:
Shock and denial: Even if the news of your job loss was expected, you may have experienced a feeling of shock or confusion when you heard the words coming out of your boss’s mouth. Don’t expect the shock to subside immediately - once you’ve processed the news on a conscious level, the shock waves may continue to reverberate for a while.
Anger: You may get angry with yourself, your employer and even your family. It’s not unusual for people to react with feelings of anger; voicing their frustration with comments like, “I can’t believe they could do this to me” or “How could I be so stupid to allow myself to be in this situation?”
Bargaining: Don’t be surprised if you find yourself thinking, “Maybe if I offer to take a pay cut or propose working part-time or… they’ll consider taking me back.” Over time this wishful thinking form of bargaining will be replaced by a more realistic action-based plan.
Depression: Particularly if your job search takes longer than expected, depression may set in. Depression clouds your thinking, saps your energy and undermines the job search. While some periods of feeling depressed are normal, consistent depression may need to be treated by a professional.
Acceptance: With time, acceptance of the situation as it is, as opposed to what you would like it to be, will begin to take hold. The "acceptance" stage is the best place to be when starting a job search, but you might not have the luxury of waiting until this point to begin your search.
No two people work through grief in the same way or at the same pace. As you cycle through the grief process and get deeper into the job search, expect to have good days and bad days. You may have moments of total panic interspersed with moments of quiet acceptance, feelings of helplessness and thoughts of “Is this ever going to end?,” followed by days when it looks like everything is going to fall right into place.
Unemployment is a bumpy, unpredictable emotional roller-coaster ride. And, while you can’t change the unpredictable nature of the ride, there are steps you can take to better manage your reaction to the peaks and valleys you’ll inevitably experience.
Ways to Manage Fear and Depression
Don’t compare yourself to others: The impact of job loss varies from person to person. It’s likely that a single 25 year-old who lives at home and is thinking about going back to graduate school will react to his/her job loss with a different intensity than a 40 year-old single mother who is laid off from the only job she has ever held. But, it’s also true that two people in similar situations may have two totally different reactions to their common loss. Each individual is unique and reacts with a wide range of emotions and behaviors; there is no one right way to handle this transition.
Become part of a support group: As wonderful as family and friends can be, many people find that joining a support group of peers is the most valuable support of all. Interacting with a group of people, who are in your situation and can fully understand what you’re going through, can be an invaluable aid in helping you maintain perspective and a sense of humor during your search.
Be honest about your emotions: Admitting your anger, fear, and frustrations to your support group is the first step toward managing your emotions instead of letting them control you.
Name and Claim the Enemy: Rather than walking around with a vague but continual sense of anxiety, try to figure out what specific things worry you most. By facing what you actually fear (i.e., financial instability, concerns that you’ll never find a comparable position) you can see how realistic your fears are and begin to work on a plan for addressing those issues.
Recognize that Luck Plays a Role in this Process: While it’s hard not to wonder why your friend landed a job quickly while you’re still looking, the answer is that every person’s search proceeds at a unique pace. Luck, timing, market opportunities and a hundred other factors conspire together in mysterious ways. Remember the saying,
“God, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.”
Avoid Negative People: A group of pessimistic nay-sayers will do nothing but reinforce your worst fears. Align yourself with friends and colleagues who think more of you than you think of yourself – their suggestions will inspire, empower, and encourage you to move on in the face of rejection. Sometimes though, even the best-intentioned people don’t know what to say and as a result usually end up saying the wrong thing. Try to remember their intentions are honorable, even if their actions are less than helpful.
Take Care of Yourself: Mom was right; it’s important to take care of yourself. Get enough sleep, exercise and eat well. Don’t allow yourself to mope around the house in pajamas all day – project an image that reinforces a positive outlook.
Focus on the Positive: While you can’t change events, you can change how you react to them. Instead of focusing on the negatives on your life, take note of the positive side of unemployment. Whether it’s the opportunity to spend more time with your children, having a chance to explore new career directions or simply being able to sleep past 6 a.m., there is undoubtedly something positive to recognize during this difficult transition.
Keep Busy: There is nothing more depressing than staring at an empty calendar. Schedule your job search activities (i.e., 10 a.m.– 11 a.m.: make cold calls, 2 p.m.-4 p.m.: work on revising resume, etc.) as you would normal business appointments. If you have blocks of unused time, look in the newspaper for listings of business related meetings, trade shows or seminars that you might be able to attend. Go to the library. Force yourself to get out of the house.
Volunteer: By helping others, you’ll help yourself feel more valued. Even if it’s only a few hours each month, the psychological boost of helping those less fortunate can be significant.
Seek professional help: If your sadness feels very profound and does not seem to improve, consider getting professional help. The cost of ignoring depression can be far greater than the cost of getting treatment. Consult your local mental health clinics, social services agencies or professional counselors for help for yourself and family members who are affected by your unemployment. Some assistance may be covered by your health insurance or, if you do not have insurance, counseling is often available on a "sliding scale" fee, based on income.
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Monday, December 1, 2008
The 10-Step Plan to a Career Change - Randall S. Hansen, Ph.D.
Dr. Randall S. Hansen is founder of Quintessential Careers, one of the oldest and most comprehensive career development sites on the Web, as well CEO of EmpoweringSites.com. He is also founder of MyCollegeSuccessStory.com and EnhanceMyVocabulary.com. He is publisher of Quintessential Careers Press, including the Quintessential Careers electronic newsletter, QuintZine. Dr. Hansen is also a published author, with several books, chapters in books, and hundreds of articles. He's often quoted in the media and conducts empowering workshops around the country. Finally, Dr. Hansen is also an educator, having taught at the college level for more than 15 years. Visit his personal Website or reach him by email at randall(at)quintcareers.com
How does it happen? Perhaps you just begin to lose interest. Perhaps you find something that interests you more. Perhaps your company is downsizing. These are just some of the numerous reasons people find themselves on that precipitous cliff looking back on their career just as the dirt begins to crumble beneath them.
Are you facing that career change plunge? Do you wish you were? Take it slowly and make sure what you really want to do is change careers. Then use this 10-step plan, and you will be on much more sure footing -- and on a path toward career change success. Finally, remember that career change is a natural life progression; most studies show that the average job-seeker will change careers (not jobs) several times over the course of his or her lifetime.
Step 1: Assessment of Likes and Dislikes. A lot of people change careers because they dislike their job, their boss, their company. So, identifying the dislikes is often the easier part of this step; however, you will not know what direction to change your career unless you examine your likes. What do you really like doing when you're at work, when you're at home - in your spare time. What excites you and energizes you? What's your passion? If you're really unsure, consider taking one of more of these career assessments. The key is spending some time rediscovering yourself -- and using your self-assessment to direct your new career search. (For more assistance in finding your new career, read Finding Your Career Passion.)
Step 2: Researching New Careers. Once you've discovered (or rediscovered) your passion, spend some time researching the types of careers that center around your passions. Don't worry if you're feeling a bit unsure or insecure -- it's a natural part of the career change process. How much research you do also partly depends on how much of a change you're making; for example, changing from a teacher to a corporate trainer versus switching from a nurse to a Web designer. You can find some great career information and a skills-matching service at O*NET Online from the U.S. Department of Labor and basic job information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Here are some other great Career Exploration Resources.
Step 3: Transferable Skills. Leverage some of your current skills and experiences to your new career. There are many skills (such as communications, leadership, planning, and others) that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your new career. You may be surprised to see that you already have a solid amount of experience for your new career. Read more: Strategic Portrayal of Transferable Skills is a Vital Job-search Technique.
Step 4: Training and Education. You may find it necessary to update your skills and broaden your knowledge. Take it slowly. If the skill you need to learn is one you could use in your current job, see if your current employer would be willing to pick up the tab. And start slowly. Take a course or two to ensure you really like the subject matter. If you are going for a new degree or certification, make sure you check the accreditation of the school, and get some information about placement successes. Check out these college planning resources.
Step 5: Networking. One of the real keys to successfully changing careers will be your networking abilities. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network. Even if you don't think you already have a network, you probably do - consider colleagues, friends, and family members. You can broaden your network through joining professional organizations in your new field and contacting alumni from your college who are working in the field you want to enter. A key tool of networking is conducting informational interviews.
Step 6: Gaining Experience. Remember that, in a sense, you are starting your career again from square one. Obtaining a part-time job or volunteering in your new career field not only can solidify your decision, but give you much needed experience in your new career. You might also want to consider temping in your new field. Work weekends, nights, whatever it takes to gain the experience.
Step 7: Find a Mentor. Changing careers is a major life decision that can get overwhelming at times. Find a mentor who can help you through the rough patches. Your mentor may also be able to help you by taking advantage of his or her network. A mentor doesn't have to be a highly placed individual, though the more powerful the mentor, the more success you may have in using that power to your advantage.
Step 8: Changing In or Out. Some people change careers, but never change employers. Unfortunately, only the very progressive employers recognize that once happy employees can be happy and productive again - in a different capacity. It's more than likely that you will need to switch employers to change fields, but don't overlook your current employer. Remember not to start asking about a job switch until you are completely ready to do so.
Step 9: Job-Hunting Basics. If it's been a while since you've had to use your job-hunting tools and skills, now is the time for a refresher course.
Step 10: Be Flexible. You'll need to be flexible about nearly everything - from your employment status to relocation and salary. Set positive goals for yourself, but expect setbacks and change - and don't let these things get you down. Besides totally new careers, you might also consider a lateral move that could serve as a springboard for a bigger career change. You might also consider starting your own business or consulting as other avenues.
How does it happen? Perhaps you just begin to lose interest. Perhaps you find something that interests you more. Perhaps your company is downsizing. These are just some of the numerous reasons people find themselves on that precipitous cliff looking back on their career just as the dirt begins to crumble beneath them.
Are you facing that career change plunge? Do you wish you were? Take it slowly and make sure what you really want to do is change careers. Then use this 10-step plan, and you will be on much more sure footing -- and on a path toward career change success. Finally, remember that career change is a natural life progression; most studies show that the average job-seeker will change careers (not jobs) several times over the course of his or her lifetime.
Step 1: Assessment of Likes and Dislikes. A lot of people change careers because they dislike their job, their boss, their company. So, identifying the dislikes is often the easier part of this step; however, you will not know what direction to change your career unless you examine your likes. What do you really like doing when you're at work, when you're at home - in your spare time. What excites you and energizes you? What's your passion? If you're really unsure, consider taking one of more of these career assessments. The key is spending some time rediscovering yourself -- and using your self-assessment to direct your new career search. (For more assistance in finding your new career, read Finding Your Career Passion.)
Step 2: Researching New Careers. Once you've discovered (or rediscovered) your passion, spend some time researching the types of careers that center around your passions. Don't worry if you're feeling a bit unsure or insecure -- it's a natural part of the career change process. How much research you do also partly depends on how much of a change you're making; for example, changing from a teacher to a corporate trainer versus switching from a nurse to a Web designer. You can find some great career information and a skills-matching service at O*NET Online from the U.S. Department of Labor and basic job information from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics' Occupational Outlook Handbook. Here are some other great Career Exploration Resources.
Step 3: Transferable Skills. Leverage some of your current skills and experiences to your new career. There are many skills (such as communications, leadership, planning, and others) that are transferable and applicable to what you want to do in your new career. You may be surprised to see that you already have a solid amount of experience for your new career. Read more: Strategic Portrayal of Transferable Skills is a Vital Job-search Technique.
Step 4: Training and Education. You may find it necessary to update your skills and broaden your knowledge. Take it slowly. If the skill you need to learn is one you could use in your current job, see if your current employer would be willing to pick up the tab. And start slowly. Take a course or two to ensure you really like the subject matter. If you are going for a new degree or certification, make sure you check the accreditation of the school, and get some information about placement successes. Check out these college planning resources.
Step 5: Networking. One of the real keys to successfully changing careers will be your networking abilities. People in your network may be able to give you job leads, offer you advice and information about a particular company or industry, and introduce you to others so that you can expand your network. Even if you don't think you already have a network, you probably do - consider colleagues, friends, and family members. You can broaden your network through joining professional organizations in your new field and contacting alumni from your college who are working in the field you want to enter. A key tool of networking is conducting informational interviews.
Step 6: Gaining Experience. Remember that, in a sense, you are starting your career again from square one. Obtaining a part-time job or volunteering in your new career field not only can solidify your decision, but give you much needed experience in your new career. You might also want to consider temping in your new field. Work weekends, nights, whatever it takes to gain the experience.
Step 7: Find a Mentor. Changing careers is a major life decision that can get overwhelming at times. Find a mentor who can help you through the rough patches. Your mentor may also be able to help you by taking advantage of his or her network. A mentor doesn't have to be a highly placed individual, though the more powerful the mentor, the more success you may have in using that power to your advantage.
Step 8: Changing In or Out. Some people change careers, but never change employers. Unfortunately, only the very progressive employers recognize that once happy employees can be happy and productive again - in a different capacity. It's more than likely that you will need to switch employers to change fields, but don't overlook your current employer. Remember not to start asking about a job switch until you are completely ready to do so.
Step 9: Job-Hunting Basics. If it's been a while since you've had to use your job-hunting tools and skills, now is the time for a refresher course.
Step 10: Be Flexible. You'll need to be flexible about nearly everything - from your employment status to relocation and salary. Set positive goals for yourself, but expect setbacks and change - and don't let these things get you down. Besides totally new careers, you might also consider a lateral move that could serve as a springboard for a bigger career change. You might also consider starting your own business or consulting as other avenues.
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