FocusPoint Newsletters

Most of us want secure jobs we can count on. Unfortunately, many of us think we can find security by hanging onto what seems like a secure job–even when the job doesn’t fit us.

Despite the articles and books warning that there is no security in today’s job market, many people still think that hanging on is more stable than moving.

Trusting in a company or job is the wrong focus for career security. The key to security is your reputation: your skills, contributions, work style, attitude, integrity, and motivations. The old adage is true even now: it’s not so much what or who you know; it’s who knows and believes in you.

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Trisha worked in a small company her entire career. After being hired as a sales rep, her intelligence, buoyant personality, and zest for life helped her excel.

The first time the company was bought, her job was largely unchanged, and her success continued.

After the second buyout, however, new management cut sales support staff, and Trisha absorbed mounds of administrative tasks. It was supposed to be a short-term arrangement. Trisha quickly caught on to the accounting and administrative procedures, and she did a credible job. She didn’t like the change, but being an upbeat person, she smiled and continued to do good, though uninspired, work.

She was horribly bored and missed the client contact. Her friends and colleagues warned her against leaving. “You have a good, stable job. It’s secure! Don’t even consider looking somewhere else.”

So Trisha made the best of it, almost convincing herself that they were right.

Even corporate leaders  like Lehman Brothers, Borders, and Enron, collapse; and Fortune 500 companies are devoured in buyouts and mergers.

Trisha acted as if her company was the Rock of Gibraltar even though it had changed ownership twice in five years. She was oblivious to the fact that her company and job could disappear so quickly.

She finally scheduled a meeting with a career counselor. The counselor noticed the joy in Trisha’s face as she talked about sales; then weariness replaced the joy as she described her current situation. Excitement punctuated by doubt returned to her face as she recalled some career possibilities she’d considered back in her college days.

Trisha realized that her death grip on a job that didn’t fit her had costs beyond her boredom:
–She was also losing money. Her client skills would earn far more in unencumbered sales for another company or in any number of sales-related jobs.
–As important, Trisha’s soul was suffering. She derived no joy from the work because she’s not an administrator at heart. The deadening effect of doing an unsatisfying job spilled over into the rest of her life, including her friendships and her marriage.

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It’s not advisable that Trisha quit her job without a plan, especially in a tight economy, but here’s what she CAN do:
1.  Get active in associations related to her work.
2. Participate in professional blogs, connect with others on LinkedIn, and explore industry-related projects and people.
3. Try negotiating with her present employer to change the job and regain the client contact.
4. Set a goal for three to six “get acquainted” meetings with hiring decision makers in sales and related fields.

By increasing her visibility and credibility as a skilled and enthusiastic salesperson, Trisha will build on the only career security that counts: a solid reputation.

What will you do to shore up your career security.

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Sharon Gutowski began her new job as Marketing and Communications Specialist at the United States Junior Chamber–Jaycees–on Jan. 4.

Saint Louis University is Patty Murray‘s new work home. She began her Administrative Assistant  job in the Student Success Center on Dec. 15.

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What I’ve Been Reading.

Carrots and Sticks: Unlock the Power of Incentives to Get Things Done, by Ian Ayers.

I  came across this book at the library. Hadn’t heard of it or the author, but I was intrigued enough by the title to read it.

If  you’re interested in changing your behavior or setting and reaching goals, this book is worth reading.

Ayers explores the rationale and methodology of “commitment contracts”–incentives and penalties alike. Applications include weight loss, career tasks,  and other real-life issues.

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Featured Resource

www.stickK.com “The smartest way to set and achieve goals” claim the developers of this well-established site. It grew out of the work of Ian Ayers and a colleague (see “What I’ve Been Reading,” above.)

The site provides information and structure for setting and reaching goals, and there are real consequences for success and failure. Click on the link above to learn how “stickK” works.

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Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

    If you:

> Feel stuck or stalled in your career

> Are worried about a layoff

> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website.

A common belief about the job search is that keeping your “options open” gives you more opportunities; or conversely, that being very specific about what you want to do will limit you.

Believing that if we present ourselves as job chameleons who can fit in almost anywhere, we hope that employers will consider us for more jobs–maybe even jobs we have not thought of ourselves.

The “I’m-open-to-options” belief persists, especially when the job market is tough. This thinking goes beyond the resume and permeates the whole job search; and it can make finding a good job difficult. Here are four reasons why it is important to have a focused approach.

1. Passion Gets Noticed.
There is great power in knowing what you want and going for it. Unfocused people cannot convey passion. True, your pool of possible jobs is smaller when you’re focused, but you greatly improve your chances of being hired for the ones you genuinely want.

Imagine that you are the general manager of the St. Louis Cardinals. Would you find “Jones” or “Molina” more interesting?

Jones approaches you saying that he’s played basketball, baseball, soccer, football, and tennis. Jones is keeping his options open, hoping that he can find a job in one of those sports. Although Molina has played other sports, he’s focused his approach on his skills and passion for baseball.

Not surprisingly, you will find Molina more compelling. You may even wonder is baseball is Jones’ first choice. Maybe he really wants to play for the Rams and will bolt as soon as he gets a chance. You might  decide to sign Molina, even if he has a bit less experience than Jones, simply because of his (Molina’s) passion.

2. Don’t Make the Employer Your Career Counselor.
When you don’t have a focus, employers may believe that you are confused and unclear about your career future. They don’t like functioning as applicants’ career counselors.

Think about why employers hire. They have problems to solve. Perhaps the accounting system is a mess, the network is sluggish, sales are down, or customers aren’t happy with the company’s service. The boss’s–and company’s–future earnings and stability depend on how well these problems get solved.

Put yourself in the boss’s shoes. If your future were on the line, would you be interested in hiring someone who is unclear about what s/he wants to do? Not likely.

3. Communicating Your Strengths Gets the Job Done
The presentation of an unfocused job seeker cannot be strong. If you try to show ALL of the things you can do, you are likely to include information that isn’t relevant to the job.

For example, after years as an Air Force mechanic, Maria was transitioning to civilian life. She couldn’t resist filling her resume and conversation with a list of all of the kinds of combat jets she had worked on. In another case, Jeremy was fluent in Italian. Unless Maria applies to an aviation company or Jeremy to a business with an international component, this is non-essential information for an employer.

4. Focus on the Employer’s Problems.
On the surface, the chameleon stance makes sense. However, just the opposite is true. The key to getting hired is your ability to help employers solve problems. Be clear about the kind of problems (technical, social, financial, etc.) you can help solve. Emphasize your motivation. You’ll be far more persuasive–and successful–than “keeping your options open.”

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CONGRATULATIONS!

Martin Arteaga is now working as Lutheran Senior Services’s (IT) System Administrator.

Casse Ward recently began the Veterinary Technician program at Hickey College. This is a shift in direction for Casse so that she can pursue her goal of working in the equine industry.

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What I’ve Been Reading.

How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie.

This classic, originally published in the mid-1930′s–in the midst of the great depression, is worth (re-)reading.  Though some of the examples are dated,  the principles Carnegie advocates apply for professional and personal  relationships, even in this 21st century.

Whether you buy it, check it out of the library, or listen to the audio book, you’ll find it full of worthwhile advice.

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Featured Resource

StandOut: The Groundbreaking New Strengths Assessment from the Leader of the Strengths Revolution, by Marcus Buckingham.

“The StandOut assessment unveils your two key strength roles and shows you how to find your edge and win at work.

“Where other assessments stop at description, StandOut takes the next step and provides practical advice on what to do to make the most of the strengths you have. Each of the nine possible strength roles is fully delineated in the book, with a wealth of detail, including:

–Where you will be at your most powerful,
–How you can make an immediate impact
–How you can win as a leader, manager, salesperson, or individual contributor.”

It’s well worth a look!

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Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

   If you:

> Feel stuck or stalled in your career

> Are worried about a layoff

> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website.

1. Develop and Use Your Network

♦   ♦   ♦

It’s tough out there, but you can beat the odds if you are persistent, educate employers about the value of your experience, and play your cards honestly and intelligently.

The Seven Levels of Communication: Go from Relationships to Referrals, by Michael J. Maher.

Although the target audience for this book is people in real estate, the principles that Maher recommends seem applicable to the job search, professional development, and career advancement.

Maher discusses levels of communication and the principles of service, creativity, and generosity. They are worth considering and adapting for people in many situations, including career management.

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Thanks for Referrals From: Carolyn Widman, Brad Angelos, Carol Dillon, Bronwen DiAntonio,  and Jim Russell.

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“Never waste a good crisis,” Marvin, a former client, stated. I chuckled as I noted his comment. Little did I know that a few weeks later it would be my mantra, too.

The crisis? A major desktop computer problem severe enough that it needed diagnosis and repair at the technician’s shop. My heart sank, and I felt panicky as I watched the technician leave with my computer–the day before a three-day weekend. Without a laptop computer (at that time) or a smart phone, I needed to find other ways to conduct my professional and personal communication.

In the midst of my concern, I reminded myself that this wasn’t a life-threatening disease, and that I’d need to figure out how to get through this major disruption.

During my computer’s eight-day absence, I discovered other ways to access my business database, check email, handle financial transactions, and communicate with friends. Some things I couldn’t do at all, and much of what I DID do was inconvenient, but my life did not come to an end.

While figuring out how to handle critical daily communication, I took steps to reduce the impact of any future computer problems by investing in a reliable daily backup system. Plus, I had time to think through some business dilemmas such as how to shift sending my six-times-a-year newsletter from US Mail to email.

* *

What I learned from dealing with this technological crisis applies to any crisis, including a career crisis like a job loss. When faced with such a crisis:

1. Get your bearings. First, acknowledge that a crisis is upsetting and maybe even disorienting. A job loss, through frightening, is rarely life-threatening. Remind yourself that in three days, three weeks, three months, or three years it will be over. It will be another memory.

Second, commit to maintain some routines, even very simple ones like exercise, regular meal times, or end-of-day rituals. They provide continuity in the midst of disruption.

2. Reach out. Call on resources–people, information, and technology. Whether it’s talking with a friend to generate ideas, seeking feedback on your updated resume, doing online research, or meeting with a career counselor, enlist help. Don’t try to do it alone. Although you may feel desperate, there are respectful and dignified ways to tap into your resources.

3. Re-evaluate. The disruption of a job loss allows, even invites, breaking old stale patterns. You may find better ways to do your search, or maybe it’s time to consider shifting direction.

4. Learn from the crisis. Determine how you can apply what you’ve learned, whether to avoid a recurrence or to handle a similar situation in the future. For example, establishing a financial emergency fund can allay  the dread of homelessness. Keep your resume updated, and continue to build and tend to your network.

5. Express your thanks and appreciation. When the crisis has passed, thank the people who helped you along the way, whether through a lead to your new job or the simple kindness of a friend. Taking time to let others know the resolution of your career crisis strengthens human bonds and extends goodwill.

*

Crises, disruptions, and unplanned events happen. By getting your bearings, reaching out, using the disruption to re-evaluate, learning from the crisis, and thanking those who helped you get through it, you won’t have wasted a good crisis.

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Featured Resource

Anyone faced with the challenge of explaining a shift in career direction should take a look at the article, “Six Solutions for Career Shift Challenges” in Martin Yate’s blog.

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What I’ve Been Reading

Secrets of Six-Figure Women: Surprising Strategies to Up Your Earnings and Change Your LIfe, by Barbara Stanny.

In her own words: “I interviewed over 150 six-figure women—entrepreneurs, corporate executives, white-collar professionals, freelancers and even part-timers (really!). I, being a classic underearner, wanted to learn how they did it and if I could too.

Though they came from widely different backgrounds and had vastly different work experiences, they were forging highly successful careers by following seven key strategies. As I started following these strategies, I became a six-figures earner before I even finished writing the book!”

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Thanks for Referrals From:

Jeff Stockton, Liz Pittman, Marcella Stevens, Fran Bonham, Bronwen DiAntonio, andUniversity of Missouri-St. Louis Career Services.

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Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

If you:

> Feel stuck or stalled in your career

> Are worried about a layoff

> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website

When times are tough it’s tempting to scale back hope that your work might have anything to do with what you love or care about. Instead, you think it’s better to “be realistic” and be grateful for any job, no matter what.

It’s at just these times that paying attention to what you care about is more important than ever.

Here are four ways that you can leverage what you love–what captures your attention, excites you, or breaks your heart–in your career.

1. Build Your Career Around a Key Interest or Cause

Diana returned to college to finish her Bachelor’s degree in psychology after her three-year-old daughter’s death from cancer. Through this heart-breaking experience Diana became interested in supporting other grieving parents. She volunteered at an agency that housed families of children being treated for cancer.

Through her volunteer work she was asked to lead a support group for parents. Later she accepted the paid position of house manager. After completing her Master’s degree in counseling she landed a full-time counseling job with an emphasis on grief work. What she cared about was the cornerstone of her career.

2. Improve Your Work Life Without Changing Careers

Some people like their main job functions, but they want to work in a different setting or with a different product, service, or clientele.

Lynn felt and looked stuck–sad, inert, pale, lifeless. She liked selling cell phones but lost interest after she was promoted to manager of the company’s mall store. This “promotion” reduced her sales income and increased her stress from the added management responsibilities.

Lynn showed no signs of vitality until she answered my questions about what she liked to do to relax or have fun. She loved to ride and care for her horse. As soon as she began to talk about this, Lynn came to life. She decided to pursue sales of products or services that veterinarians use.

Lynn didn’t change careers–sales–she just changed industries.

3. Prepare for A Shift in Direction, a Pivot Point

What you care about can provide a base for building new skills.

Mike had an operations job at a financial services firm. He wanted to move into marketing and promotions, but had no direct experience.

He loved bicycling and for several years had ridden in the MS-150, a fund-raising 150-mile bicycle ride benefiting the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. He proposed that his company sponsor a team, and he served on the leadership committee. Planning required publicity to recruit riders and donors, arranging training rides, ensuring safety,  and handling transportation and other logistics.

Mike began to develop skills and an experience base on which he could build and then eventually transition to a more marketing-oriented job.

4. Network Naturally

Carlos, a credit analyst at a local utility company, recently completed his degree in computer science and wanted to move into an IT function at his company. He felt blocked in his attempts to advance internally, and he claimed that he had no contacts outside the company.

Carlos loved coaching his son’s baseball team. In discussing this with me, he recalled that two of the fathers of boys on the team had IT jobs. It hadn’t occurred to him to explore possibilities through these acquaintances, probably because he was just having fun coaching. He felt at ease and natural about arranging conversations with these two men.

? ? ?

C O N G R A T U L A T I O N S
to
James Miller!

10-10-10, by Suzy Welch. An interesting book about decision making. It involves projecting consequences of a decision in 10 minutes, 10 days, and 10 months.

Mindset, by Carol Dweck. I’ve just read the book. Well researched and written, it’ll make you question assumptions. It helped me progress through a frustrating phase in learning fingerstyle guitar.

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Thanks for Referrals From:

Dan Hummert,
Becky MeKenna,
Gloria Lubowitz,
Sharon Biegen,
Bronwen DiAntonio,
Jan Niehaus and
Webster University Career Services

Consider a Career Action Planning (CAP) Session

If you:

> Feel stuck or stalled in your career

> Are worried about a layoff

> Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
> Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it.

For more information call me at 314-752-1373 or use the comment form on my website.

We all hear that networking is the key to finding a (good) job. Yet it often doesn’t work. Upon closer look, however, the problem is not that networking itself doesn’t work; it’s that it’s done ineptly.

Networking does NOT mean: Imposing on others. Acting like a beggar. Accepting a friend’s offer to “circulate” your resume. Going to meetings you’d normally shun just to give out your resume and collect business cards. Asking family and friends if they know of openings. Requesting a meeting to pick someone’s brain. Calling a former colleague you haven’t talked with in the last decade to ask is she knows of any openings in your field… These kinds of activities have given networking a bad name. No wonder you put it off! Bad networking is worse than none at all.

Similarly, the people you contact–no matter how willing in general they may be to help–don’t like feeling duped, being asked to have their brains picked, or meeting with no clear purpose or agenda.

Done right, though, networking gets you to people and opportunities you won’t see advertised. You find out who’s got the problems you can help solve–whether or not there are posted “openings.” You gain access to hiring decision-makers, bypassing the HR fortress. All this while preserving your dignity and without imposing on others. Whether your goal is a job change, career transition, or increasing your current career effectiveness, networking done well increase the odds of achieving your goal.

Well, it’s 2011: Another new year: new calendar, new goals, renewed commitments or–at the least–recycled hopes. If advancing your career is one of your goals (whether it’s getting re-employed, promoted, or moving in a new career direction), apply this stealth approach: pursue a learning agenda.

I don’t mean the regimented, highly-structured, formal classroom, high-tuition, graded, stress-inducing graduate degree type that may first come to mind. It’s the learning that YOU CHOOSE: new or refined skills and new or refined content.

Taking responsibility for your learning applies regardless of your age, race, or gender; whether you work full-time, part-time or volunteer; whether your work is prestigious and public or routine and behind-the-scenes; whether it pays well or poorly; whether you get along well or badly with your boss; and whether you’ve been promoted or laid off.

Setting your learning agenda can:
–> Invigorate a job that’s gone stale
–> Jump-start a stalled career
–> Bridge an experience gap to make a job or career change
–> Equip yourself for a raise or promotion
–> Earn credentials needed for advancement
–> Boost productivity and effectiveness in a job you love
–> And, yes, enrich your life, too!

Here are some examples:
.. Danielle, an attorney, decides to upgrade her LinkedIn profile and learn to use the website’s features to strengthen her online professional connections.
.. Doug, a program director for a social service agency, wants to improve his Spanish, so he looks for a Spanish conversation partner and applies to host an exchange student from Peru.
.. Jessica, a team leader in a claims processing department, wants to move into a management position but knows she needs more budgeting knowledge. She works out an agreement with her boss to participate in monitoring the current year’s budget.
.. Tyrone, a systems analyst, contacts his Human Resources office to check on tuition remission guidelines.
.. Lisa, an unemployed graphic designer for print, realizes that she’ll have more opportunities by learning to design for web-based communication. She invests in software and uses the online tutorial, and will add website design to the services she can provide.
..  Paul, an architect in a small firm, commits to pursuing LEED certification to bring more value and to respond to his market’s growing interest in sustainable design.

Now, at the beginning of the new year, create a learning agenda that’s fun, engaging, and enriches your work. Shape it to fit your needs and style. You’ll stimulate your brain, add to your skill and knowledge base, and move your career forward. Though a stealth move now, the impact down the road will be visible.

What’s your learning agenda for 2011?

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HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON–AND WHAT TO DO IF IT IS

This subject may seem odd, given our current economic conditions. It’s tempting–and understandable–to scale back plans and dreams in times of change. You’re grateful to be alive, to have a job, any job.

Career restlessness seems minor compared to worrying about losing your job and/or medical benefits, long-term unemployment, or the loss of a general sense of security. You may feel apprehensive about the future or even guilty or greedy about wanting more for yourself at a time of large-scale economic uncertainty and hardship for others.

Times of upheaval—social, economic, or personal—often prove to be defining moments. You ask what really matters. Are you at peace with how you’re living your life? Are there things left unsaid or undone? Living miserably in a job that’s a poor fit is its own kind of death—quiet and suffocating—in contrast to the public and dramatic events like major recessions,  terrorism, and natural disasters.

As we have witnessed in the past few years, out of horrible events, bold moves are possible. In fact, without something to shake us up, it’s too easy to play it safe.

♦

HOW TO KNOW WHEN IT’S TIME TO MOVE ON

According to author Rona Lichtenberg, it’s time to move on in your career when any one of the six statements below is true. They are her words, verbatim.
►  It’s not just that they don’t pay you enough, it’s that they couldn’t ever pay you enough to make you feel good.
►  You believe that nothing you do makes the least bit of difference.
►  You’re not learning anything.
►  No one ever talks to you about the future in a positive way.
►  You hate your boss so much that it’s hard to think about anything else.
►  You feel that who you are at work doesn’t have much to do with who you are in the rest of your life.

If you agreed with one of the statements above, you’re probably at least restless at work. If you agreed with two or more, you’re probably very unhappy in your work. It’s more than a bad day or month on the job; it’s a bad fit. Time to do something to improve your situation.

♦

WHAT TO DO WHEN IT IS TIME TO MOVE ON

⇒ Get Your “I’ll Be Ready When…” List Together
Ask yourself what you’d need to feel ready to make a move. The more specific, the better. For example, “I’ll feel ready when: I have new job target; I know how I’ll handle medical benefits if I have a time of unemployment; I have three month’s current salary in the bank; I have 15 contacts.”

⇒ Take Action—with Support
After you’ve figured out what it will take to feel ready to make a move, get support to make it happen. Whether through books, buddies, workshops, or enlisting the help of a professional career consultant, you’ll find your action less lonely and more effective. Support and expertise, regardless of their source, are indispensable for successful career transitions and  job search campaigns.

♦

Life’s too short and too important to spend it doing something you don’t like or that isn’t rewarding in financial or personal ways. Clarify what really matters in your life and work, then take steps to make it happen. Even small actions create momentum; sustained action yields eventual results. You’re worth it.

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Suggestions For Topics?

A friend I’ll call Marissa recently resigned from her high-level position that she’d held for less than a year. After a great start on her job, contact with her boss grew strained, especially after Marissa noticed the poor performance of some key company investments. Although her relationships with colleagues thrived, interactions with her superiors cooled to ice-cold. No longer included in key business decisions, Marissa knew it was time to look for another job.

Nothing this bad had ever happened to her at work before, and she felt haunted by this failure. She dreaded dealing with the inevitable question of why she left this job.

Career setbacks like Marissa’s often deal a double whammy. First, they’re upsetting at the time (being laid off, fired, passed over for a promotion, receiving a poor performance review, coping with personality conflicts or ethical dilemmas, etc.). You feel betrayed, angry, confused, hurt, ashamed or discouraged.

– / –

Before Interviewing: Debrief the Setback

Before you even attempt an interview, debrief the entire situation with someone you trust.
–What’s the unedited truth as you see it? Expressing the full range of your reactions is the first step to understanding and learning from the setback.
–As you think back over the situation, were there any signs/signals/red flags that you missed or didn’t take seriously earlier?
–It’s tempting to blame only yourself or only your employer for the problem. Resist that urge. Instead, consider what you and they could have done (or not done) that might have changed the negative outcome. Determine your responsibility, obvious or subtle, in these events.
–What were the larger circumstances–economic, political, personal, etc.? This broader perspective helps you recognize and navigate troubled waters in the future.
–What have you learned? About yourself, similar situations? How is this setback like or unlike other experiences?

Debriefing and and learning from the setback reduces dread, embarrassment, and oozing bitterness in interviews. You don’t want to feel or look like “damaged goods.” Employers don’t want to hire personnel problems, thus their interest in the nature of your departure. Understanding your interviewer’s unspoken fear helps you frame your response. Being clear with yourself ensures that you’ll be able to communicate more calmly and confidently at interview time.

– / –

The Four-Part Strategy
After you’ve considered the questions above, you’ll be able to frame your response by using the four-step strategy below:
1. Tell the truth–briefly, and minus the gory details.
2. Take responsibility for the outcome–even if you think you were blameless. No bad-mouthing previous employers.
3. Describe what you’ve learned–about yourself, situations you do best in, etc.
4. Return the conversation to the interviewer.

– / –

Here’s how Marissa responded to the “why did you leave your last job ?” question:

“I’m the kind of person who takes pride in getting along well with others. In my last job, though, I ran into a situation that I wasn’t able to figure out how to work out, and it was clear I needed to leave.

“My colleagues told me I was the most productive person who’d ever held the position. My experience base is broader, and I’ve gained technical and managerial skills.

“I want to be sure that in my next job that I’m part of a strong leadership team and that giving and receiving feedback happens in a timely manner.

“So even though it was a tough experience to go through, I have stronger skills and experience to bring to the table. I’d like to explore how these would be an asset here.”

Marissa told the truth, took responsibility, explained what she learned, and returned the conversation to the interviewer.

– / –

Given the four-part strategy described above, career setbacks don’t have to haunt you long after they have happened. Paradoxically, when understood and discussed in a direct and even-handed manner, you address your interviewer’s unspoken fear in a way that strengthens your candidacy. Now you have your “ghostbusting” strategy.

In each newsletter issue I recommend a career resource. The resource may be a website, book, local group, or meeting.

Take a look at Daniel Pink’s latest book, Drive: The Surprising Truth about What Motivates Us.

In this very well-researched and readable book, Pink addresses fundamental beliefs about motivation with chapter titles like “Seven Reasons why Carrots and Sticks (Often) Don’t Work.”

Pink then describes the three elements that fuel motivation, especially for non-routine, complex, or creative action. Many examples, especially related to work and career, make Pink’s conclusions more than just thought-provoking: they’re essential to incorporate in real-world career decisions.

• Feel stuck or stalled in your career
• Are worried about a layoff
• Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
• Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it. Contact me for more information.

To be successful and satisfied at work is no accident. It’s unlikely without the help–strategic and supportive–of others. Seeking help in your job search and career advancement increases your effectiveness and efficiency–saving you time, money, and unnecessary discouragement.

No matter what your job, age, or experience; no matter how successful you feel; regardless of your formal education; and no matter how thrilled or miserable you are in your current situation, you can find people skilled and interested in helping you improve your employment situation.

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Below are some common career scenarios. Read and check the statements that apply to you:
__ I love my job and industry and I’m committed to developing new skills, adding to my knowledge, and cultivating relationships.
__ I seem to have drifted from my original goals (or didn’t have any to begin with), making job changes in crisis mode–laid off, quit, or let go. My work is OK at best, horrible at worst.
__ I like my work and field, but I am paid less than the market for what I do.
__ I have been passed over for promotion, and I’m not sure why.
__ I am returning to paid employment after caring for family members. I wonder what marketable skills I have.
__ I hear that networking is the most effective way to land a good job, but I don’t have many contacts, and besides, I don’t want to be a job beggar and impose on others.
__ I’ve been laid off. I’ve been offered outplacement services, but I don’t know if they’ll be much help because I want to change career directions.
__ Going back to school sounds like a good idea. Maybe another degree will make me more marketable.
__ I’ve responded to lots of online job postings but haven’t had many interviews, and have had none for jobs I’d really want.
__ I’d like to update my resume, but I’m not sure how to make it most appealing.
__ I’m so stressed on my job that I wish I could quit, but I panic about money.
__ I hate the job search process and may contact a headhunter this time.
__ My friends and family are trying to help me, but nothing’s working. I’m down and discouraged.
__ I feel good about my search and target, but am not sure how to answer questions about why I left my last job.
__ I’ve tried reading books and taking classes, but I still haven’t figured out what I want to do.

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For any of the scenarios that apply to you, help is available. To find the right person to assist you, follow the steps below.

#1. The the Truth to Yourself: How are You Stuck?
The checklist above is a great beginning. Getting clear about what you need help with is key to finding the right resource.

#2. Identify  the Appropriate Resource Type
Read through the descriptions below to determine which categories of people resources fit your needs. Resources are listed from most comprehensive to most specialized.
* Career Counselors, Consultants, and Coaches. To define a career direction, develop a job search target and strategy, learn how to network, get feedback on your resume, and prepare for interviews, consider hiring a career consultant (or counselor/coach). You’ll receive personalized assistance for any or all phases of the career development and job search process. Expect to pay hourly or project-based rates. (This is the kind of help I provide.)
* Agencies. A number of non-profit, educational, government, and private-sector groups provide career services. For example, colleges and universities often offer career assistance to alumni. Missouri provides Career Centers for the public. Vocational rehabilitation services are available, and you can find “retail” career counseling within the for-profit sector. Many agencies charge only modest fees, and some are free–especially state-sponsored groups. “Retail” services through a firm cost much more.
* Recruiters, Search Firms, Headhunters. These are companies that identify, screen, and prepare candidates for interviews for mid-to-upper-level jobs. They are best for candidates who are very focused and have a strong track record in their industry. Sometimes search firms will recruit successful people into considering a new job.
Such companies are useless if you’re not experienced and clearly focused. Specialization is common, e.g., medical, legal, CEO, technical, creative, sales, etc. The hiring company pays the fee in one of two ways:
1) Retained:The firm gets paid whether or not they fill the position. If unsuccessful, the firm won’t get rehired.
2) Contingent: Recruiting firm get paid only if/when the position is filled.
* Employment Agencies. For entry level, temporary, contract work or permanent “placement,” here’s another potential resource. Some specialize in areas like accounting or human resources. Some may include mid-level jobs. The employer usually pays the fee. Avoid agencies where you pay the fee.
* Resume Writers prepare your resume for a fee. Some simply type what you give them. Others will help you fashion one and prepare generic cover letters. They are most useful when you have a clear target, don’t have a way with words, and/or don’t have basic computer skills.

#3. Ask for Referrals to Your Target Resources
Once you’ve determined the type of assistance you want, ask people you trust for recommendations or referrals. Although you will find listings online and in the yellow pages, your best leads are from satisfied clients.

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The lone-ranger mentality may have worked for a 1950′s television show, but it’s counter-productive in a successful and satisfying career. Enlisting the knowledge, skills, and perspectives of a career advisor is a small but very powerful investment you make in a rewarding career.

Take a look at The Luck Factor by Dr. Richard Wiseman. In it he addresses questions such as:

• Why do some people lead happy successful lives whilst others face repeated failure and sadness?
• Why do some find their perfect partner whilst others stagger from one broken relationship to the next?
• What enables some people to have successful careers whilst others find themselves trapped in jobs they dislike?
• Prof Richard Wiseman reveals the psychology behind the elusive luck factor and shows how people improve their luck by changing the way they think and behave.”

• Feel stuck or stalled in your career
• Are worried about a layoff
• Wonder if it’s not just a new job but a new career you need
• Have been looking for work but not getting results

In this 90-120 minute meeting, we can get to the root of your career problem and come up with a plan to solve it. Contact me for more information.