Posted by CathyG on Dec 23, 2009 in
career advice,
job loss,
job search Here’s an article with the title of Five Rules for Job Security from the CBS Moneywatch site.
But in fact they are not about giving you job security. Nobody can do that. Instead, they are about
- mitigating the effects of job loss and
- protecting your financial security in the event of job loss.
The distinction is important. These days you can’t count on job security, although it makes a great headline. The story opens with an anecdote about a marketing executive who was unexpectedly laid off. Fortunately, he had already started a part-time Internet business. He was able to bring in enough revenue to keep paying the bills till he found another job.
What the article doesn’t add is that having this financial security probably gave this man an edge when he applied fora new job. Employers tend to hire people who are confident. I like to think that getting a job is like getting a bank loan. It’s easier when you don’t need it.
This man’s approach, along witih the other techniques proposed in the article, seem to suggest creating a form of career insurance. By way of analogy, when someone steals a precious possession, your insurance allows you to replace it. Nothing guarantees that your object won’t be lost stolen. But insurance can mitigate the damage.
I’d be happy to talk to you about ways to develop your own career insurance. Click on my coaching page to learn more about my services.Ca
Tags: career advice, job loss
Posted by CathyG on Nov 23, 2009 in
organizational culture Po Bronson’s latest book, NutureShock, raised questions about the value of praise for children. We need to praise children for effort, he says, not for talent. In other words, “You’re very smart” encourages children to rely on their gifts. When faced with a task requiring effort, they retreat: “If it doesn’t come easily, it’s impossible.”
Bronson says the rules are different for adults. Workers, he says, respond to praise.
Really? I rather doubt this myself. Maybe it’s because I came of professional age during the Women’s Movement. Back then employers widely believed that women didn’t need money. We wanted praise, like a little pat on the head. “You’re doing a great job” was code for, “Yes, you’re better than many of your colleagues but we aren’t going to reward you.”
Today I get tons of messages from ezine readers and class participants who say, “Great course” or “I love your ezine.” I love their messages…but I wince when someone writes, “Thanks for doing what you do.” I wonder if they realize I’m “doing what I do” for marketing, not love.
My experience is that the higher you rise in an organization, and the more you get respected professionally, the less you receive praise. Instead you start to get meaningful rewards. Praise can be a way of communicating, “We don’t take you seriously, so here’s a nice pat on the head.”
I also believe that praise has to be reviewed in the context of the organization’s culture. In some organizations, praise is suspect. The US military is a good example. A female Army officer I met (in a nail salon, of all places) said, “I never hear anything good. In fact, even the best officers get yelled at. It’s just the culture.”
On sports teams and dance companies, the best performers get the most criticism from their coaches. Everybody knows this. In his book The Same River Twice, author John Walters tells us that superstar Diana Taurasi received more criticism from legendary coach Geno Auriemma than any other player. Her teammates admired her because she never got upset; at the end of practice she’d wish him a pleasant evening. In many corporate and professional cultures, the ability to “take it on the chin” gets similar admiration. And those who take criticism graciously often get rewarded more than their colleagues who get a lot of happy talk and pats on the back.
What do you think?
Tags: career advice, organizational culture
Posted by CathyG on Oct 31, 2009 in
job interview,
job loss,
job search A job interview can be scary and stressful. After all, just getting to the interview meant you had to jump through hoops. You might be one of six interviewees chosen from over 300 applicants. But getting past the other five can be a minefield.
One challenge clients often raise is, “What about my problems with my boss in the job I just left?”
or
“What if my new boss is an acquaintance of my old boss?”
For instance, one career changer told me, “I’ve been job hunting for a long time. My past boss was abusive and he didn’t like me. It’s a small world. What should I do?”
Relax. Chances are your old boss is just a ghost who will never materialize in daylight. Your old and new boss probably don’t know each other. The odds of your name coming up are quite small. Of course, if your new employer calls your former boss for an off-the-record chat, there’s nothing you can do. You won’t even know about it, since those chats probably violate company policy. Still, the odds are in your favor. Bosses know they will look bad when they insult a former employee, unless they have straightforward factual information.
During your interview, you don’t need to bring up the past, recent or distant. If you are asked directly about your previous job, focus on enjoying a positive experience. Focus on what you learned, not what went wrong.
Your interviewer is not your therapist. She wants the answer to one question: “How will you contribute to the organization, department and mission? How will you make her look good?” Regardless of what you are asked, imagine framing your answer as, “The way I will contribute is…”
One surefire tip to banish ghosts: Make a list of all the ghosts that could possibly appear to embarrass you. For example:
Ghost #1: You’ve been out of work for eight months. You might be asked, “What have you been doing?”
Ghost #2: “Why did you leave your job? Why aren’t you working again?”
Think of every possible awkward or difficult question. Write out the answer as a soundbite that focuses on your contribution. Consider reviewing your responses with a career consultant or coach.
And I invite you to learn more:
Irrevent Guide to Mid-Career Job Search: Click here.
Consulting and Coaching (Often just an hour will make a huge difference): Click here.
Tags: career advice, job interview, job search
Posted by CathyG on Oct 9, 2009 in
21st century,
career advice Blog Talk Radio Show:
Date / Time: 10/10/2009 8:30 AM
Call-in Number: (347) 855-8042
Or go to http://www.blogtalkradio.com/midlifecareergame to listen live or catch the replay afterwards.
Are you being paranoid (or just realistic)? Something seems odd…but is it your imagination? On this call we will talk about 5 warning signs most people miss. We’ll talk about how to tell if it’s all in your imagination. And what do you do if you’re not being paranoid: your job really might go away?
Tags: career advice
Clients often find they are challenged to maintain a line between business and personal lives. There are 5 ways you can encounter problems from over-disclosing:
(1) Stereotype – most dangerous
Every psychology class will tell you: people hold stereotypes. It’s not always fair but it’s part of human nature.
For example, if you’re getting a divorce, your colleagues will pull up their stereotypes of divorce, mostly negative:
“She won’t be able to concentrate.”
“He’ll be drinking a lot.”
“She’ll be depressed and miserable to be around.”
“He’ll be financially stressed.”
Do you need this hassle? I think not.
(2) Labeling
One day after a few drinks, you tell your colleagues, “I’ve been in therapy for a year. I’m trying to deal with issues about my relationships.”
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with that. Millions of people are in your shoes. But one of my former colleagues learned (the hard way) that even this simple disclosure led to labeling him as “the guy who’s got relationship troubles.” Colleagues started asking him more personal questions and disclosing their own personal details. Worst of all, his personal life was discussed more than his many valuable contributions at work.
(3) Interpretation
Expect anything you say to be distorted and interpreted through your colleagues’ cultural lens. . “My sister was in a convent for awhile” can become “She was a nun for 5 years.” It can even become, “She’s a religious fanatic who doesn’t have a romantic life.”
True story: In one company, a new CEO decided to be open about his personal life. Introducing himself, he said, “My divorce is being finalized next week. I’m set to marry my girlfriend in just three months. We’ve been together in Dallas for over three years and finally will tie the knot. I have two kids in college and one starting his freshman year.”
In the 21st century, this story seems straightforward. Most people would be bored.
But a few of this CEO’s colleagues did not share his moral values. Some held religious views on divorce. Others were married or divorced with children of their own. One said, “I cannot believe he is living with another woman before the divorce. I will never be able to respect him, no matter how much he does for this company.”
I talked about his at http://www.BlogTalkRadio.com/MidlifeCareerGame
where you can listen to the replay.
Career consulting is available (limited) at http://www.midlifecareerstrategy.com/coaching.html
(4) Red flag for future assignments
Your boss has ten people who all want the next promotion or plum assignment. She’s looking for good, solid reasons to make a decision. If you’ve just shared your personal life – your divorce, financial problems, or bad medical news – she’s got an easy out. And you handed it to her.
(5) Vulnerability
Being vulnerable is a healthy part of being in a personal relationship. It’s not a healthy part of a business relationship. Even if you feel scared and insecure, you want to be strong.
Tags: career advice, career coaching
Posted by CathyG on Sep 26, 2009 in
career advice Job search is getting extremely challenging during tough economic times, so even mature graduates are turning to the universities they left behind a long time ago. Alma Mater means “greatest mother,” but returning to your college or university won’t feel like asking your mother ffor help. These days universities are expanding their services. Some even offer webinars to faraway alums. Here’s just one story.
Before using the services of your alumni office, ask a few questions. Try to find someone who is similar to you in your age and profession. Ask him or her, “How did this alumni office help you?” Some universities are still quite frankly geared to helping recent graduates. Others will have only local contacts.
Ask about fees and obligations before you begin. Some alumni career centers charge as much as private career coaches. If that’s the case, don’t assume they’ve screened your coaches and guaranteed you the best available. Career centers often pay low salaries to career coaches so you’re not getting access to coaches with experience. Before working with anyone, ask about his or her training and experience. Ideally your coach will combine business experience with some study of careers. A degree in “career counseling” may mean your consultant has studied psychology and test-taking but lacks knowledge of how the real world works.
Be skeptical of anyone who asks you to take tests. If you’ve been out of school for many years, your tests will reveal that you are amazingly well suited to the career you ave now. Personality tests, such as the Myers-Briggs (or MBTI), are very popular, even among academics. Yet many are unscientific and most will be unhelpful. Test results may be a good way to start a career discussion but they won’t answer the question, “What should I do with my life?” And they definitely won’t help you answer the tougher question, “Where are the jobs?”
More info:
Career Coaching for Mid-Career Professionals
Ebooks to Download Here
Tags: career advice, job search
Posted by CathyG on Sep 26, 2009 in
21st century How much of your personal life should you disclose at work?
Penelope Trunk, author of Brazen Careerist and now famous blogger, likes to be controversial. That’s a good thing when you’re a blogger. Recently she posted about a very personal topic: having a miscarriage at work. She also wrote about her desire to get an abortion, which was thwarted by a three-week wait in Wisconsin. And she says we need to be more open about these topics because 25% of pregnancies end in miscarriage and many of those miscarriages happen at work. Whew! She’s hit about six hot buttons in just one short article. Read her full post here.
As you read this post, how do you feel? Disgusted? Annoyed? Admiring? Do you feel it’s an appropriate topic for a blog that’s supposed to be about careers? And how much should you reveal in the workplace about your personal life, health, family and so on? It’s a complicated topic because the answers will differ depending on your company and also on your situation. When someone asks, “How was your weekend?” you can disclose a lot if your married with two kids on soccer teams. If you’re single and dating someone new… well, that’s different.
These days when so many people are informal and open, it’s even more important to set boundaries. The damages from self-disclosure aren’t always obvious or swift. Even when you have your own business, you have to consider what to share with clients and potential allies. Some people believe in “let it all hang out” and others believe in tight compartments. I’d like to hear from you: what are your challenges, recommendations and solutions?
I’m talking about this topic next Saturday morning on my Blog Talk Radio Show. You can listen live, participate in discussions or catch the recording afterward. Meanwhile, post comments below. Just click on the word “Comment” to post.
Tags: career advice
Posted by CathyG on Sep 25, 2009 in
job search An interesting article about job search on a budget: Click here.
Just don’t believe the suggested investments in coaching and resume writing. Career coaches charge $150-$300 an hour (although an hour usually includes services that go beyond the hour). Lower-end coaches won’t be as experienced.
They advise paying $200 for a resume. If you’ve got a simple resume, you might get away with this amount. A senior executive will need to pay $500-$1000.
Just don’t pay attention to services promising to not only write yor resume but also distribute it to thousands of potential employers. These are scams. They can actually hurt your career. One of my clients realized she needed expert help when a business acquaintance called her. “Why are you applying for a job with my company?” he asked. “Your background has no relation to our openings.”
Tags: career advice, job search
Posted by CathyG on Sep 22, 2009 in
21st century Set a google alert for your own company. Add alerts for your boss and key top managers. You will be surprised at how much shows up.
Just one thing…use your own personal computer account!
Tags: career advice
Posted by CathyG on Sep 20, 2009 in
career advice,
relocation Recently I listened to a wonderful call from Christina Merkley, the Shift-It Coach. I highly recommend Christina if you are considering a life change and looking for support and direction. I consult her myself when I want a sounding board although I’m somewhat left-brained. I find many Law of Attraction principles can be explained by mainstream psychological concepts.
Christina has a Soothing Saturday series which I recommend. She has a guest who discusses techniques and ideas that may be helpful. Last week one caller shared this story. I don’t know the caller’s name so I’ll call her “Betty:”
“I used Law of Attraction to support a move from Colorado to California. I was totally convinced the move would happen. But my house didn’t sell and I couldn’t move. Things turned out badly after that.”
I’m no expert in Law of Attraction; in fact, I raise questions about it. But I *am* somewhat of an expert on moving. You can learn more from my book, which originally was published by New Harbinger.
And I hear an undercurrent of doubt. You don’t have to be locked in to a location because your house won’t sell. You may be able to rent for awhile. You may be able to lower the price.
When your move is contingent on selling a house, you are a prisoner to your home. That’s not a good place. These days people are more sensitive to the possibilities. With the recent economic downturn, I’ve seen many Seattle condos converting to rentals because people are terrified they’ll be stuck.
Suppose Betty were my client. From the first day she considered moving, I would say, “First set a goal of selling the house. Deal with the house and then deal with the rest of your move.” I’ve sold two houses very quickly as soon as I decided to move. The first time I didn’t even have a real estate agent – just a sign on the lawn. I ran into a neighbor looking to buy. The second time I wanted to rent my house. A buyer offered me a 25% premium over market value and I never looked back.
If your first step of a new venture is hard, stop and ask why. If you meet resistance, stop and think. A Law of Attraction expert might talk about energetic forces and who knows? Maybe they’re right. Anyway, it’s much more fun to talk about energy and attraction than cognitive psychology or economics.
For example, when I left New Mexico, I had two options. One offered resistance. The other was wide open. I considered moving to Philadelphia. Then someone suggested, “Why not Seattle?” I had trouble finding an apartment in Philadelphia that was dog-friendly. In Seattle I had choices. I ended up in Seattle in a great apartment, with (literally) a little help from my friends. (I keep thinking about buying a place, but I like living downtown and the condos are problematic.) Seattle is totally dog-friendly. They even allow dogs on buses. If my first dog had died a little earlier, or if I’d waited to move, I might have moved to Philadelphia with just two cats and who knows what might have happened?
Tags: career advice, relocation
