As the bad news about the economy continues, I have been reading strange stories about career choices that people make in the name job security. When I first heard that applicants to mortuary science schools have practically tripled, I chuckled -- until I realized that people were seriously choosing to become funeral directors in an effort to obtain job security. The reasoning -- that people have to die, even if the economy is bad - bears some relationship to the truth. On the other hand, people may choose to spend less money on lavish funerals. If so, the industry will undergo its own metamorphosis: expect price wars, deep discounts, and more cremations.
The lead story in tomorrow's Chicago Sun-Times relates that applications to medical schools are up for the same reason. In the frantic search for job security, students are now choosing medicine in record numbers. But medicine is also in a state of flux. Doctors complain about burgeoning demands on their time, the pressure to see more patients, and excessive insurance industry oversight.
President Obama promises to reform the health care system but will this make the medical profession a better, more humane place to work? Nor do physicians have the kind "write your own ticket" that some people seem to believe they have. I have worked with many doctors who have difficulty finding good jobs. And they don't have the best transferrable skills. It's hard for them to leave medicine without making huge financial and professional sacrifices.
There is still a small bastion of security in academia. But jobs are scarce and the pay is not always competitive with other industries.
So what's the answer? The answer is: there is no recession-proof job. No one can guarantee you a paycheck for life. The best way to guarantee your future is to continuously scan the employment horizon for new trends and opportunities, actively upgrade and expand your skills and experience, and build a solid professional network. While there are no recession-proof jobs, there are recession-proof people.
Be one.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Tuesday, February 3, 2009
A Lesson from the Superbowl
When Pittsburgh Steelers' head coach Mike Tomlin was asked how he helped his team stay motivated after the Arizona Cardinals took their lead away in the final minutes of the fourth quarter, he memorably responded:
"Steeler football is 60 minute football."
That was a much more articulate statement than the one former Yankee manager Yogi Berra made when he infamously said: "It ain't over 'til it's over."
The sentiment is the same though. As long as the game clock is still running -- or there's still one inning left to play -- the game isn't over.
Recently a distraught parent complained to me that their son -- an aspiring sports administrator -- seemed to quit trying to win a job offer in the middle of the interviews. From their narrative, I got the impression that he had either decided that he no longer wanted the job or felt that he was so obviously qualified that the interviewer should simply give him the position without further discussion.
As a result, he wasn't getting job offers and he was becoming more and more despondent. When I spoke with his parents, I suggested that they use a sports metaphor that would enable their son to see how he was sabotaging himself. Basically what I told them is, that quitting in the middle of an interview is like quitting in the middle of a game. It doesn't matter whether you're winning or losing -- if you quit in the middle of the game, the other team wins.
Mike Tomlin reminded me that winning teams never give up. They play their hardest right until the very end. This doesn't guarantee a win; but it helps to know that you did your best and, win or lose, you never gave up.
"Steeler football is 60 minute football."
That was a much more articulate statement than the one former Yankee manager Yogi Berra made when he infamously said: "It ain't over 'til it's over."
The sentiment is the same though. As long as the game clock is still running -- or there's still one inning left to play -- the game isn't over.
Recently a distraught parent complained to me that their son -- an aspiring sports administrator -- seemed to quit trying to win a job offer in the middle of the interviews. From their narrative, I got the impression that he had either decided that he no longer wanted the job or felt that he was so obviously qualified that the interviewer should simply give him the position without further discussion.
As a result, he wasn't getting job offers and he was becoming more and more despondent. When I spoke with his parents, I suggested that they use a sports metaphor that would enable their son to see how he was sabotaging himself. Basically what I told them is, that quitting in the middle of an interview is like quitting in the middle of a game. It doesn't matter whether you're winning or losing -- if you quit in the middle of the game, the other team wins.
Mike Tomlin reminded me that winning teams never give up. They play their hardest right until the very end. This doesn't guarantee a win; but it helps to know that you did your best and, win or lose, you never gave up.
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Radio Interview
When I received a call from WBEZ (Chicago's public radio station) to appear on "848" as an employment expert, I knew that I would say "yes." Although I haven't done much media lately, I am most comfortable with radio appearances and I especially like call-in shows.
Yesterday's show was no exception. Of course the callers are always the "wild card." It's impossible to know what anyone will ask. The first caller is just the kind of caller that I dread. He was a machinist who'd been laid off from his job and was absolutely furious at everyone and everything. He was enraged with his ex-employer about the layoffs; he was also enraged because so many companies are outsourcing jobs like his to other countries; and finally he was enraged because the promise of "retraining" was, in his words, "a joke."
While I sympathize with his frustrations, I also think that all of that rage is misdirected. Regardless of how he feels about these things, companies are going to lay people off, they are going to outsource jobs overseas, and retraining packages are going to be inadequate. Once he accepts those realities, he will be ready to help himself. In the end, he is responsible for his own career.
Of course a certain amount of venting is cathartic. But it can also be counter-productive. At some point (hopefully sooner rather than later) this man is going to need to diversify and/or upgrade his skills, and reinvent himself in a way that fits with what the job market demands and wll buy. All the resentment in the world won't change his situation and it certainly won't make him happy.
So what I advised him to do is change his attitude and accept more responsibility for his own career. That's what it means to be an adult in this job market and that's one important piece of what it takes to be successful. I'm not sure that he heard me; but I hope that anyone who reads my blog will hear my message and act on it.
Yesterday's show was no exception. Of course the callers are always the "wild card." It's impossible to know what anyone will ask. The first caller is just the kind of caller that I dread. He was a machinist who'd been laid off from his job and was absolutely furious at everyone and everything. He was enraged with his ex-employer about the layoffs; he was also enraged because so many companies are outsourcing jobs like his to other countries; and finally he was enraged because the promise of "retraining" was, in his words, "a joke."
While I sympathize with his frustrations, I also think that all of that rage is misdirected. Regardless of how he feels about these things, companies are going to lay people off, they are going to outsource jobs overseas, and retraining packages are going to be inadequate. Once he accepts those realities, he will be ready to help himself. In the end, he is responsible for his own career.
Of course a certain amount of venting is cathartic. But it can also be counter-productive. At some point (hopefully sooner rather than later) this man is going to need to diversify and/or upgrade his skills, and reinvent himself in a way that fits with what the job market demands and wll buy. All the resentment in the world won't change his situation and it certainly won't make him happy.
So what I advised him to do is change his attitude and accept more responsibility for his own career. That's what it means to be an adult in this job market and that's one important piece of what it takes to be successful. I'm not sure that he heard me; but I hope that anyone who reads my blog will hear my message and act on it.
Friday, December 12, 2008
What's New in Job Search?
We are being bombarded by bad news about current and future job losses. No wonder everyone is so worried. If you haven't looked for a job in awhile - or even if you have - you might be wondering what, if anything, is new in the Land of Job Search.
For starters, the basics are still the basics. Networking is still the best way to find a job - keeping in mind that it's not just who you know but who you can meet that matters. Be open-minded about the possibilities and cast your search net both deeply and widely. That said, you will probably be disappointed if you over-rely on mega career sites like Monster and Careerbuilder. Although those job listings are the easiest to find, those jobs are surprisingly hard to get. It's not because they're better than other jobs; it's because you are directly in a numbers game where the odds are working against you. With so much activity, it's just too difficult to get noticed.
I've said this before, but it bears repeating: social networking sites like LinkedIn are the real revolution in job-hunting because they enable you to expand your network exponentially without ever leaving your house. But that doesn't mean that's all you have to do. Once you have identified people that you want to talk to, you still have to email them, or pick up the phone, and have a real conversation. And I still believe that face-to-face meetings are absolutely crucial.
Recruiters also have an important role in job-search success especially for senior level executives and professionals. Use your network to identify and connect with recruiters who work in your industry and/or job function.
I've never been a fan of the shotgun approach to job hunting where you simply pepper the immediate universe with resumes. While the Internet makes it even easier and more tempting to enact that scenario, I continue to advocate for the qualitative approach to job hunting. Take the time to research the companies that really interest you and to talk to people who can facilitate your interest in that company and then hone your conversational skills.
When I say "hone your conversational skills" I am reminding you to talk "to" rather than "at" people. Potential employers always respond better to potential candidates who have done their homework and can talk knowledgeably about the employer's industry and products/services.
Don't make the beginner's mistake of expecting the employer to educate you about the basics. Know the basics before you begin and then build upon that foundation so that you can have an interesting and productive conversation with your (hopefully) future employer.
For starters, the basics are still the basics. Networking is still the best way to find a job - keeping in mind that it's not just who you know but who you can meet that matters. Be open-minded about the possibilities and cast your search net both deeply and widely. That said, you will probably be disappointed if you over-rely on mega career sites like Monster and Careerbuilder. Although those job listings are the easiest to find, those jobs are surprisingly hard to get. It's not because they're better than other jobs; it's because you are directly in a numbers game where the odds are working against you. With so much activity, it's just too difficult to get noticed.
I've said this before, but it bears repeating: social networking sites like LinkedIn are the real revolution in job-hunting because they enable you to expand your network exponentially without ever leaving your house. But that doesn't mean that's all you have to do. Once you have identified people that you want to talk to, you still have to email them, or pick up the phone, and have a real conversation. And I still believe that face-to-face meetings are absolutely crucial.
Recruiters also have an important role in job-search success especially for senior level executives and professionals. Use your network to identify and connect with recruiters who work in your industry and/or job function.
I've never been a fan of the shotgun approach to job hunting where you simply pepper the immediate universe with resumes. While the Internet makes it even easier and more tempting to enact that scenario, I continue to advocate for the qualitative approach to job hunting. Take the time to research the companies that really interest you and to talk to people who can facilitate your interest in that company and then hone your conversational skills.
When I say "hone your conversational skills" I am reminding you to talk "to" rather than "at" people. Potential employers always respond better to potential candidates who have done their homework and can talk knowledgeably about the employer's industry and products/services.
Don't make the beginner's mistake of expecting the employer to educate you about the basics. Know the basics before you begin and then build upon that foundation so that you can have an interesting and productive conversation with your (hopefully) future employer.
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
The Hero's Journey
To paraphrase the late great mythologist Joseph Campbell: The hero's journey is the adventure of living your own life.
His words are as true today as they were when he wrote them and serve as an important reminder that there is no one righr way to live a life, no cookie cutter formula, no perfect answer. There is only the unique paths that individuals carve out for themselves within the context of the human community. With a little practice and attention to biography, you can see the hero's journey in the life of everyday people.
Today's example: Anita Shreve was a high school teacher who left her job (mid-semester) to devote more time to her writing. That decision "to write" led her to work as a journalist in Kenya, to freelance for the New York Times Magazine, and to teach creative writing. It also landed her on Oprah when The Pilot's Wife was chosen for Oprah's book club. After that, her fame made it easier (financially speaking) to pursue her vocation.
The point I want to make is not (yet another) overused cliche to "pursue your dreams" and that "dreams can come true." It is simply a reminder that we all have unique paths in life. When we start out, we may not know where that path will lead us. But we do know that unique life journeys are filled with obstacles and challenges. The hero's journey is, by definition, not an easy journey. But it doesn't have to be a lonely one. It can be shared with others and others can share in it and, in that sharing, we find the support and meaning of community.
His words are as true today as they were when he wrote them and serve as an important reminder that there is no one righr way to live a life, no cookie cutter formula, no perfect answer. There is only the unique paths that individuals carve out for themselves within the context of the human community. With a little practice and attention to biography, you can see the hero's journey in the life of everyday people.
Today's example: Anita Shreve was a high school teacher who left her job (mid-semester) to devote more time to her writing. That decision "to write" led her to work as a journalist in Kenya, to freelance for the New York Times Magazine, and to teach creative writing. It also landed her on Oprah when The Pilot's Wife was chosen for Oprah's book club. After that, her fame made it easier (financially speaking) to pursue her vocation.
The point I want to make is not (yet another) overused cliche to "pursue your dreams" and that "dreams can come true." It is simply a reminder that we all have unique paths in life. When we start out, we may not know where that path will lead us. But we do know that unique life journeys are filled with obstacles and challenges. The hero's journey is, by definition, not an easy journey. But it doesn't have to be a lonely one. It can be shared with others and others can share in it and, in that sharing, we find the support and meaning of community.
Thursday, November 6, 2008
Experience vs Change
As President-elect Barack Obama begins the complex task of building his administration, early naysayers are already disappointed by his decision to surround himself with experienced Washington insiders like Joe Biden and Rahm Emanuel.
The belief that experienced people are incapable of creative and innovative thinking is simply wrong. Being an "outsider," inexperienced in the workings of the political process does not make you a better candidate for a job. It just makes you a candidate who does not have a certain kind of experience in a field.
While career changers can and often do bring unique ideas with them into their new careers, it doesn't really seem wise to fill all of your top level positions with career changers. You need to have some seasoned veterans on your team who understand how things have been done in the past - what has worked and what has failed - and how things might be done differently in the future. Experience does matter and a smart leader knows how to tap into the experience of other people.
One measure of a great leader is to know what you don't know and, by extension, build a team of people who have strong experience in areas where you are vulnerable. Hence Obama's choice of a running mate who has far more extensive experience in the area of foreign policy.
Ironically, people who believe that experience, by definition, makes you rigid and cynical are themselves rigid and cynical. It's what you do with the experience that you have that matters most. For those who know how to learn the lessons of their own history, experience is a great teacher.
There are an enormous amount of armchair critics in the world who are eager to second-guess every move President-elect Obama makes. I would like to offer a cautionary note to all of those would be naysayers. Americans have voted to place their trust in this man. Please give him a chance to prove himself. As inexperienced outsiders, a lot of us have no idea what a new leader needs to do to build a successful administration. Rather than assuming that we are smarter than him, let's all reserve judgement and perhaps even learn from his example.
The belief that experienced people are incapable of creative and innovative thinking is simply wrong. Being an "outsider," inexperienced in the workings of the political process does not make you a better candidate for a job. It just makes you a candidate who does not have a certain kind of experience in a field.
While career changers can and often do bring unique ideas with them into their new careers, it doesn't really seem wise to fill all of your top level positions with career changers. You need to have some seasoned veterans on your team who understand how things have been done in the past - what has worked and what has failed - and how things might be done differently in the future. Experience does matter and a smart leader knows how to tap into the experience of other people.
One measure of a great leader is to know what you don't know and, by extension, build a team of people who have strong experience in areas where you are vulnerable. Hence Obama's choice of a running mate who has far more extensive experience in the area of foreign policy.
Ironically, people who believe that experience, by definition, makes you rigid and cynical are themselves rigid and cynical. It's what you do with the experience that you have that matters most. For those who know how to learn the lessons of their own history, experience is a great teacher.
There are an enormous amount of armchair critics in the world who are eager to second-guess every move President-elect Obama makes. I would like to offer a cautionary note to all of those would be naysayers. Americans have voted to place their trust in this man. Please give him a chance to prove himself. As inexperienced outsiders, a lot of us have no idea what a new leader needs to do to build a successful administration. Rather than assuming that we are smarter than him, let's all reserve judgement and perhaps even learn from his example.
Sunday, October 26, 2008
It's the Economy......
Tons of people are nervous about the economy and the growing bad news about unemployment. News of tanking financial markets and job layoffs are daily events that stir already heightened anxieties. While you probably can't do much about the big picture, you can do something about your own situation. If you are worried about losing your job and not being able to find another one in such a competitive market, I suggest that you take some precautionary measures right now.
1. Update your resume to include current job titles and specific accomplishments. This is easier to do while you are still working and have access to current data. Once you have left your employer, it may be harder to recover that information.
2. Think critically about whether there is anything that you can do now to enhance your marketability later -- this includes additional training, certifications, and expansion of job responsibilities. Although you may want to safeguard your time, you need to balance that priority with the need to present yourself as a cutting edge candidate later.
3. Expand your network. Use social networking sites like LinkedIn to connect with recruiters and other people outside your company.
4. Join a professional group. Professional associations are another way to expand your network and build professional contacts who may be able to help you later.
5. Work with a career counselor, if necessary (okay, this one is self-serving, but it's my blog.) What I have discovered through the years is that downturns in the economy have a direct impact on my practice. During the bad times, my clients often present with a greater sense of pessimism and urgency, as if they have seen the future and it doesn't look good for them. Together we craft a path that is both workable and interesting and which, despite the odds, positions them for success.
Whatever you choose to do, denial is not an effective career strategy. Rather than wait for a crisis to occur (while simultaneously praying that it doesn't happen), create a viable backup plan to protect yourself from disaster.
1. Update your resume to include current job titles and specific accomplishments. This is easier to do while you are still working and have access to current data. Once you have left your employer, it may be harder to recover that information.
2. Think critically about whether there is anything that you can do now to enhance your marketability later -- this includes additional training, certifications, and expansion of job responsibilities. Although you may want to safeguard your time, you need to balance that priority with the need to present yourself as a cutting edge candidate later.
3. Expand your network. Use social networking sites like LinkedIn to connect with recruiters and other people outside your company.
4. Join a professional group. Professional associations are another way to expand your network and build professional contacts who may be able to help you later.
5. Work with a career counselor, if necessary (okay, this one is self-serving, but it's my blog.) What I have discovered through the years is that downturns in the economy have a direct impact on my practice. During the bad times, my clients often present with a greater sense of pessimism and urgency, as if they have seen the future and it doesn't look good for them. Together we craft a path that is both workable and interesting and which, despite the odds, positions them for success.
Whatever you choose to do, denial is not an effective career strategy. Rather than wait for a crisis to occur (while simultaneously praying that it doesn't happen), create a viable backup plan to protect yourself from disaster.
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