Why Gifted Adults Struggle With Career Planning

Gifted adults often face unique career career challenges. They’re often described with words that seem negative in the context of most corporate jobs. For instance, gifted adults can seem restless and undirected. They juggle several projects at the same time. They come across as intense and supremely focused.

When children are gifted, they often get into trouble at school because they are bored. They are not always the “A” students because their minds don’t work in conventional ways. Teachers often don’t know what to do with them.

However, being a gifted child can bring rewards because children are praised and rewarded for learning and scoring high on tests. Adults are rewarded for broader forms of success, which require social skills and personality traits that often conflict with the gifted adult’s nature.

Many gifted adults have felt “different” since childhood. Some understand that they don’t fit in because their mind works differently. But others think there’s something wrong with them.

When gifted children become adults, they face unique career challenges, especially if they don’t recognize themselves as gifted. They might try to fit into corporate life, only to get frustrated. Corporate life rewards qualities like frustration tolerance and conformity. Gifted adults tend to get bored easily and have trouble conforming, even when they want to.

Gifted adults tend to be rewarded when they find themselves in careers and environments that support their abilities. Examples include scientists, professors in research-oriented universities, authors, and many professionals. Some gifted adults know how to “play the game,” moving beyond unrewarding entry level jobs to reach positions where they can use their gifts.

Unfortunately, other gifted adults remain stuck in jobs where they are guaranteed to remain misfits. A manager who conceptualizes the company’s problems easily can get repressed by bosses who don’t encourage her to explore these directions. A worker in a dead-end job who lacked the education and social skills that would let him move to a more congenial environment can’t use his mind.

If you relate to these descriptions, you may encounter difficulties not only with career choice but with career guidance. Career counselors can be intimidated by gifted clients. They are trained to discourage career changers from moving in too many directions at once. They see gifted clients who seem to grasp ideas really quickly but sometimes have trouble translating these ideas into action.

In particular, gifted adults tend to catch on to things so quickly they face two dilemmas in choosing a new course. First, they seem to be good at so many things, they say it’s hard to choose. Second, they (and their advisors) often say, “You’re really good at this. Maybe it should be your career.” Aptitude turns out to be a small part of career satisfaction, so it is important to look at the total picture, including personality and style.Why Gift

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Why Telling The World You Hate Your Job Is a Bad Idea

Just ran across a recent post called, “Don’t let Facebook cost you a job.” The author shared stories of real people who lost their jobs because they posted complaints on Facebook. Read the story here.

These people thought they were being careful. They didn’t name names. They didn’t even name companies. But their own names were posted and (big surprise!) their bosses were on Facebook.

The article could have gone on to show how the damage doesn’t stop with your current job. Your future boss googles your name, sees your complaint, and labels you as whiny (or worse). Not good.

By the way, if you really do hate your job, I’ve got a book for you! Check this out.

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Are you too comfortable?

That’s what the CFO coach, Cindy Kraft, wants us to ask. Read her post here.

I’ve been saying this for years. Any job can disappear. If you’re not getting more marketable, it’s time to move on.

Getting comfortable is especially dangerous if you hate your job. In my experience, you can sabotage your own career if you secretly want an out.

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Leave a sinking ship (or enjoy more cheese?)

Q. I joined Blue Company three months ago. Since then my department has experienced a 40% turnover. I can see why. It’s disorganized and outdated. Our boss expects us to put in long hours to do meaningless work. Time to leave?

A. Maybe.

Here the key question seems to be: Are these departing employees reacting to a situation that (a) has happened recently, (b) is unlikely to change and (c) will affect you personally?

If circumstances changed a few months before you were hired (e.g., a merger or new CEO), you may be part of a new wave. You actually will benefit from these events.

Or maybe these departures have nothing to do with the company. Suddenly your field has opened up and recruiters have raided your group. If that’s the case, you may be in a position to raise questions about your compensation – always a judgment call.

Or you may be seeing the beginning of the end.

For example: I once worked for an organization with a truly incompetent department head. Unfortunately for him, employees in his department were highly marketable. One by one, they took off. They were hard to replace.

We thought the situation would go on forever.

But following the departure of 2 particularly valuable employees, management asked the department head to accept a lateral transfer. They promoted a well-respected employee to be the new manager until an outside search could be completed.

Bottom Line: We’ve all heard the saying about rats deserting a sinking shop. But is the ship really sinking? Has a new path to dry land just opened up? And can you find a safe corner that’s well-stocked with cheese — and nobody else is around to demand a share?

To fine-tune your intuition, I recommend my very own
Intuition Ebook.

and clients tell me they like my
Job Search Guide.

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Money Management: sometimes a latte is an investment

In a recent New York Times article, Damon Darlin advises graduates to save money by skipping the lattes at Starbucks. Make your own coffee, he says. You’ll save about $2000 a year.

To read the article, you have to register (free):
New York Times site

I would tend to agree…except…

Freud famously said, “Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.”

I would say, “Sometimes a latte is not just a latte. Why are you drinking that latte? Who’s with you?”

Depending on your answer, those $3 drinks may be an investment in your future. For example:

(1)You’re sipping with the stars.

If your industry or company group hangs out at the local coffee shop, you’re not just drinking coffee: you’re gathering intelligence that you can use to advance your career.

Of course, if you get together to gripe and you’re drained by negative energy, gossip and whining, you’re losing a lot more than the price of coffee.

One small town business owner invested over $200 a month in coffee at two espresso hangouts. He was one of the few business owners who came by regularly to chat with the regulars and stay informed. His business was one of the few that demonstrated explosive growth in the downtown area.

(2) You’re forcing yourself to get some work done.

Those who work at home know all too well: sometimes you gotta get out of Dodge. You’re feeling enclosed by four walls. The refrigerator is way too tempting. And frankly, you’re just plain lonely.

Drop the dog into day care and head for Uptown Espresso, Java Joint, Bean City…whatever your locale has to offer. Nurse a drink and work with the wi-fi. Cheaper than renting an office…and if you meet with a client, you deduct the coffee from your taxes (if your accountant approves – I’m not an expert).

Bonus: I’ve met several business owners who made better connections over laptops at Starbucks than at those $50-a-pop networking meetings.

I’ve also spotted corporate executives hiding out in the corner, ducking yet another dreary meeting.

(3)You absolutely, positively hate your job and your latte gives you a break.

When people hate their jobs, I advise them to find something to enjoy, even if it’s just a picture on an office wall. Of course, I also advise them to get proactive about making some change. See
my free article on Ten Things To Do When You Really, Really Hate Your Job.

Sometimes you need to hang on because you need credibility, experience, time in grade, or basic survival funds. Looking forward to that latte may get you through the day and the week…and it’s a lot cheaper than therapy. I’d also recommend that you join a gym: exercise is a natural mood-enhancer.

If you need the prescription version of anti-depressants, you get to discuss the meaning of lattes, cappuccinos and decaf with your therapist. Not me.

And if you choose the coffee shop for the taste, or you get your coffee in takeout containers, then I’m with Darlin, the New York Times writer. You’re not investing in anything: you’re buying coffee.

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7 Dumb Career Mistakes Made by Smart People

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