Keppie Careers

Social media speaker, social media consultant, job search coach

Remain Positive and Focused During Your Career Transition

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Today, I’m happy to share a guest post from my business partner, Hallie Crawford. Do you know you need a career change, but you aren’t sure what path to take? Hallie specializes in helping recent college grads and boomerangs identify their ideal career paths and make it happen. Visit her site to learn more about Hallie!

by Hallie Crawford, MA, CPCC

Does it sometimes seem like as soon as you decide to break the mold in your career and make a positive change, the whole world turns against you and tells you why you can’t do it, it’s not possible or something else that’s not very encouraging?

One of the biggest challenges that people in career transition face is trying to convince their families, friends, coworkers and the people who know them best that change is a good thing. At a time when everything is in flux, it’s tough for us to reassure people we are headed on the path to success despite any obstacles which may surface along the way. We may even be uncertain ourselves! And because we frequently experience the most resistance to our ideas from the people who mean the most to us, it can FEEL like our core support system is caving in.

As a certified career coach who has helped many people overcome obstacles and someone who has paved the way for my own career, I make sure my clients know where to find the best type of career support, at the time when they need it most.

Here are five sources where you can seek out guidance, education– even commiseration– during your career transition period.

1. Career networking – both online and in person.

There are tons of career-focused networks and resources on the internet and in your local area. Do a Google search; Check out your home town paper to find out where the best career focused communities are hiding; Go out and mingle with like-minded professionals who are seeking a change in their own careers or who work in the field you would like to pursue; Participate in workshops; Contact your college alumni office; Attend a networking event.

2. Individual career coaching.

A good career coach will never just hand you instructions, but is there instead to offer expert advice, an objective viewpoint, positive encouragement and suggestions to help manage your goals effectively, in a manner that works for you.

3. A career seeking buddy.

Sometimes it isn’t easy being that “horse of a different color” in your group of friends. If everyone you know is consumed with their corporate job but you have a strong urge to strike out on your own, you may get some resistance from those who can’t relate or are concerned you are making a mistake. The solution is not to try and persuade the naysayers, but instead seek like-minded people or a supportive friend to commiserate with, share experiences with, and bounce ideas off of. It’s so important to feel like you have someone who understands what you’re going through during the sometimes unpredictable yet exhilarating career transition time.

4. A mentor or someone who has “been there.”

Is there someone in your life who you admire because they didn’t follow the status quo, made their own way or just seem to be living out an amazingly full and satisfying life and career? Maybe you have a friend, relative, or acquaintance who started their own business or managed to interweave creativity and flexibility into their professional life in a way that stands out from the crowd. Now is a perfect time to ask for advice and guidance from that person, listen to their story, learn from their mistakes, and apply this knowledge to the changes that you’re going through in your own career. Most people are more than happy to share what they have learned.

5. Career education courses.

Newspapers, career publications, public libraries, online career resources and even my career website, are all great places to discover reasonably-priced career education and transition courses. Become armed with the knowledge needed to begin your journey on the path to a more fulfilling career.

When you’re striving for a positive change in your life, the goal is to seek out experiences that help further along that goal, enhance your knowledge, and offer positive feedback. It’s understandable that our human support group won’t always exist in the places where we’re used to having it… but help is out there. I have confidence that you will receive the guidance and understanding you need to move forward with your dream of the ultimate career for you. Good luck!


photo by thomashawk

Stay Positive and Upbeat When Job Hunting

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Maybe you read yesterday’s post and have been wondering how you’re going to get yourself out of the doldrums so you can approach your job hunt with a positive attitude that will appeal to employers. (Just having a positive attitude should also help make you feel better, but that’s another blog!)

I’m no Polianna – I understand how difficult a long and drawn out job hunt can be. It can be demoralizing to be out of work, especially around the holidays. I hope the following tips can help you get over a hump and get your search going in the right direction:

You are not alone! Heard the news? Read a newspaper lately?  Take comfort in the fact that you are in great company if you are looking for a job.

Focus on the silver lining. Try to separate your thinking from the inevitable worry and stress a job loss creates to focus on your plans. Think beyond tomorrow – what do you REALLY want to do next? Is there a silver lining that will allow you to re-think your career direction or job location? Is this an opportunity to take the time to re-train for another field that has always interested you? Maybe you never really liked your job much anyway, and if you stopped to think about it, this job loss is actually a good thing for your career and maybe for your health as well!

It’s not all about you. While there are things that you control and should consider evaluating, such as your resume and written job search materials, your appearance and demeanor and actual job hunting skills, don’t take the fact that you can’t find a job personally. Even if you take care of all the things in your control and focus your search efforts properly, it may still take longer than you’d like to land a new position. Assuming you’ve done your part, it’s not your fault.

Plan your search. And plan time off of your search! You can’t stay chained to your computer 24/7. I’ve written about how important it is to take time off of your search. If you were a workaholic before, this may be difficult for you, but try! Take time off for fun. Rent a movie. Pop some popcorn and relax. Plan hours to search and hours to be off. Take control – it feels good!

Volunteer. This is a great way to help other people who are less fortunate. The advantages?

  • First and foremost – you will be helping an individual or group. Using your skills to benefit others is very rewarding.
  • Noticing that, even if you lost your job, you are still very fortunate relative to many others can be a reminder to stand up straighter and smile.
  • You may inadvertently find new career avenues as a result of volunteer work. If you volunteer in an area that always interested you, but you never learned much about, it might be an opportunity to find a new direction.
  • Volunteering can offer great networking potential. You’ll meet new people, expand your circle and demonstrate you skills and competence in a new venue. This is great for your job hunt!

Stay tuned for the rest of the series, including other tips for how to use your time well and how to find support when it isn’t coming from the typical sources.

If you’re looking for a job, I can help you. Take a look at our services to learn what we can offer.

photo by william hutton jr.


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You Control Your Job Hunting Destiny

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I recently received an email from a former colleague. He’s an empathic and caring professional who never has an unkind word to say and is one of my mentors in the career world. So, I certainly took notice of his strongly worded comments.

He wrote:

I was watching Good Morning America this morning, (not a normal part of my routine), but on the show I learned they are sponsoring/promoting job fairs across America…I only saw one segment, but it was very revealing and certainly blog-worthy.

DRESS!!! Attire was absolutely HORRIBLE. What are these people thinking???? The men were less than business casual. One man Robin Roberts interviewed had no tie and literally 4 buttons undone on his shirt. He has been unemployed for over a year and has no idea why. Sure, he was in construction, but he has to dress when meeting potential employers. Overall, of the people they showed in line, at least 2 – 3x were more inappropriate than appropriate for a job fair. It was SHOCKING!!!!

Then came the interviews. Robin Roberts talked to 3 people. Talk about depressing. Sure they are unhappy because they have been unemployed since February or longer, BUT, that is NO REASON to have lack of energy and purpose. They will never get hired with the hang-dog pessimistic attitude. Who wants to hire that??? People need to suck it up and get a burst of happy because being morose will not earn them work. Someone needs to shake these people and wake them up. It was awful…terrible…pathetic.

Think about it: are YOU one of these job seekers? You don’t even try very hard anymore because you’re so tired of looking for a job? I often think about all of the clients I meet who blame the economy or any number of other factors when they can’t get a job, when there are some very basic things that job seekers can do to improve their chances.

In your efforts to focus on resume standards and interview questions, are you forgetting the basics?  You MUST make an effort to appear positive and not down and out at the interview. Appearing desperate won’t win you points, and most people wouldn’t purposely choose to work with a sad sack. In fact, career columnist Anita Bruzzese said, “Most hiring managers I have interviewed say they won’t hire desperate candidates, although they can’t exactly explain why. They also say they really take notice of people who give off a positive energy.”

Are you giving off a positive energy? Would YOU want to hire you? Think about it…Take control of what you DO control. Dress up for interviews. Smile. Sit up straight and look confident. Stay tuned for tips to help you stay positive and use your time well while in a longer than expected job search.

If your job search is getting you down, consider partnering with me to help get you on the path to landing a job. You will be amazed at the things you could be doing that you are NOT doing that can help you get where you need to go.

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Ethics and Your Job Search

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Having grown up in the Chicago suburbs as a kid a little more interested in politics than average, I certainly encountered more than my share of information about crooked politicians and the notorious “Chicago Political Machine.”  So, it’s with particular interest that I follow the story of Illinois Governor Rod Blagojevich, who was arrested in Chicago on two counts of Federal corruption charges because he may have been trying to sell Barack Obama’s vacated Senate seat.

The first thing I always think about when a politician gets into trouble is, “What was he (typically, it is a he!) thinking?” Don’t these people recognize that there are rules and laws for a reason? Did they miss some all-important lessons about following the rules back in kindergarten?

As an employee or job seeker, it’s a good idea to remember what you (should have) learned in kindergarten! While you may not be a high-profile personality, your ethical compass is just as important to set. In a recent post, author and Alexandra Levit shared a link to a quiz testing your business ethics. Alexandra also offers a link to a primer on ethics from the Josephson Institute. She notes that the primer has, “realistic examples and a step-by-step decision making model, [and] examines the hows and whys of making choices that withstand ethical scrutiny.”

Consider how you conduct yourself at work and in your search. Are you truthful in your application? Do you lie on your resume? You know it’s not a good idea, but maybe you think it’s okay as long as you don’t get caught? My advice? Stay on the up-and-up and you won’t have to worry about getting caught!

Need help with your search? I can help get you ready for a new career in the new year!

photo by janerc

P.S.

In the category of “the things I never thought I’d learn while blogging,” did you know that there is a  plant nicknamed “honesty?” (Pictured above!)

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Is there A Silver Lining in the Job Loss Cloud? New Careers or New Locations to Consider

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Marci Alboher, author of New York Times column and blog, Shifting Careers, which recently ended its run, tweeted about a piece on the NBC Nightly News in which she commented. The segment, which is called, “Layoffs Land Some in Second Career,” tries to focus on a potential positive outcome of being let go from a job, especially a long-term career position. The upside? Turning a negative into a positive by retraining for a different career, possibly one that was once a pipe dream or seemed unrealistic.

In the piece, they highlight a former Wall Street executive who decided to go to school to become a chef after losing her finance job. It had been a long-time dream, and she decided to view the lay-off as a doorway to a new career.

The woman in the segment was able to use her savings to pay for schooling, but Marci suggests in the piece that there is scholarship money for those willing to look for it. If you are considering changing fields and retraining, another NBC segment (Recession Proof Jobs) suggests the following industries to consider:

  • Healthcare. Reports show that 1 in every 5 jobs in the next 5 or 6 years will be in health care. This includes doctors and nurses, home healthcare aides and new medical technology experts.
  • Education. In certain parts of the country, especially in the west (California, Utah) as well as in places such as Georgia and Kansas, there is a big need for post-secondary teachers, elementary school teachers and substitutes. Apparently, Connecticut has such a shortage of subs, they were calling in parents to watch classes when teachers were out! While substitute teaching isn’t necessarily a career path itself, you can certainly look into this option while pursuing other training or looking for steady work.
  • Technology. There’s a big need for network systems administrators and main frame experts.

Unless you already have a background in these fields, re-training will be required, but at least you’ll probably be buying yourself some job security for the next few years!

None of these areas appeal to you? Lindsey Pollak suggested some other resources to consider in a recent blog post. Some of her suggestions:

  • North Dakota is experiencing a shortage of skilled workers.
  • BusinessWeek offers a list of places to ride out the recession.
  • The following industries have potential, according to one study: railroads and utilities, the logging and mining sector, food, drink and tobacco manufacturing as well as oil pipeline transportation.
  • President-elect Obama pledged to create a huge public works program to stimulate the economy, which will mean jobs in that sector. Lindsey suggests that  “you could set up a Google news alert for phrases such as “public works,” “national infrastructure” or “expanding broadband access” to keep abreast of this growth segment.
  • Accounting is a growth industry.
  • Looking to move outside the U.S.? Lindsey notes that Australia and Dubai are two hotbeds of job opportunities to consider.

The point is – even if you aren’t interested in moving to North Dakota, Australia or Dubai, keeping your options open and thinking beyond the obvious could help propel your search. With open eyes and a strong career search strategy, there ARE opportunities, even in an economy that seems to be spiraling down the drain.

What other locations or fields are offering opportunities? Share your thoughts in the comments!

You’ll want to be competitive no matter what your field of choice. I can help you succeed by writing a great resume and teaching you how to leverage your strengths and skills for today’s job market! www.keppiecareers.com.

photo by matty_p

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