Time Magazine covered the topic in-depth in "The Future of Work".
If you want the Reader's Digest version, literally, they covered it in "Quick Study: The Future of Work"
Seth Godin writes about it in "Linchpin" and regularly challenges our thinking in his blog.
And Odesk created this presentation to address the change!
Is it real or imaginary? And what will you do to change with the it?
Have we become accustomed to hand outs? Do we feel entitled? Typically these are qualities associated with the younger generation, however, it may be cultural or societal.
No one promised us employment or the "right to work", did they? In a changing global economy, it has become every man, woman and child for themselves. Survival of the fittest. And I believe this is a good thing for the majority of lazy Americans.
We need to develop a hunger or sense of passion. We need to earn a living, not have it handed to us on a silver platter.
I am on this rampage because I've been witnessing job seekers who are upset over being denied WIA training dollars (free government grants), angered over the fact that Unemployment Insurance extensions may no longer exist and who only want to participate in FREE professional development opportunities.
Please, where are your survival skills?
When thousands of immigrants rush to enter our country for the opportunity to work and and make money, doesn't it make you wonder? What is it they they see that we don't? They are doing more than just looking for a better life. They are risking it all for a better life. They leave behind their families, friends and community to earn money and perhaps build a new life.
When the pilgrims came to this country, they were hungry and passionate for a better life. They risked it all and left behind the stability of their lives. They became entrepreneurs, providing product and services that their community needed. They weren't looking for handouts. They weren't expecting to be supplied with training on how to farm, how to make candles or be a blacksmith.
Yes, our world is different today. Many jobs do require advanced skills. How do you acquire them? The key is to identify them before you need them. Become hungry or passionate.
And yes, the immigrants and pilgrims had less to lose. What is it that you are afraid of losing?
So before you start complaining about needing a job, ask yourself, am I hungry enough to do what it takes to survive?
Got thoughts? Did I hit a nerve? Please comment.
Let's start this week's Summary with a Tom Peter's video! If you crave more, you are in luck, he has a host of them on his website here.
Now, we can move on to the regular posts!
The Danger of Becoming Complacent from Personal Branding blog by Kyle Lacy
10 Ways the Next 10 years are going to be mind blowing from High Existence
So You're Not an Expert You can still help someone by Jake LaCaze
I Got an Offer...But Why Didn't I get the job Offer I wanted? from Work Coach Cafe
LinkedIn Tip: How to Rank Higher In Search Results from CIO.com
Twitter Power: Learning for Ourselves in Realtime from USAToday
You have them, don't you- a box or stack of old business cards that sits wastefully in your desk or perhaps they are in the box in the attic along with your old work files. Perhaps you resigned and boxed them up along with your other desk items, maybe you were laid off and took everything you possibly could as a way of getting back at your employer, or maybe your title changed or your company revamped its logo, leaving you with leftover out of date cards.
I never knew what to do with the cards, until I had a conversation the other night with Kate. So it got me thinking, what can we do with old business cards?
Let's be "green" and recycle this expensive printed material...what have you done with your old business cards?
I, like many of you, love Fridays. It gives me permission to stop thinking about work for a couple of days! However, before I do slip into my mini vacation, I like to look back at the week and see if I've made progress/headway/completed my goals. Certainly there are some weeks I give myself higher marks than others.
When you look back at your week, what accomplishments have you made? Were there significant breakthroughs or milestones you crossed? Did you make yourself smile? Did you do anything to help someone else?
In my favorite movie there is a wonderful quote:
"A heart is not measured by how much you love but how much you are loved
by others."
—
Wizard of Oz
It is easy to find ourselves measuring ROI (Return on Investment) and other technicalities, but don't forget the bigger picture!
It is so important to stay current with what is going on within your occupation and industry. How are you keeping up? Do you dedicate time each month or each day to review current trends? Things change so quickly, it is hard to keep up with it all sometimes.
One of the worse things to do is make excuses for not keeping up. Have you ever said any of these:
Then let me ask another question. If your company were to lay off half of its employees on Monday, would you be in the 50% that remain? That slim remainder of employees have to be masters at cross functional work. Not just knowing about how to do other things, but actually being able to do them.
The remaining 50% have to be innovative and have ideas on how to streamline and expand into new markets. Do you have ideas?
No matter what your role in a company, it will benefit you and your employer to understand the bigger picture- internally and externally.
This is a form of job security. It is professional development. It is staying in control of your career.
I would really love to know how you are are staying current with what's going on. What do you read? What seminars do you attend? How often do you pursue learning opportunities? I welcome your comments!
Trust. Reliance on another person or entity. Having faith in others and believing them. (from Wikipedia, of course.)
I am beginning to wonder where trust fits within society today. On one hand, it seems we are holding trust very high on the list of what we expect of others. On the other hand, we have so many public figures abusing their privilege to be trusted. Tiger Woods, Gov. Paterson, Toyota, Google, and the list goes on and on.
At the core of hiring and employment, trust plays a very important role. Today's summary are posts related to trust in job search and leadership. Perhaps you will be able to see where trust fits.
Building Relationships Organically - Part 4 by Liz Lynch
The trust bureaucracy from Social Media Today
Cheating: The Great Equalizer in a Bad Economy. Even in HR? from Fistful of Talent4 Devastating Career Killers and How to Avoid them Part 4 from UpMo
I am awaiting the arrival of Trust Agents by Chris Brogan which I just ordered yesterday. I know, better late than never! To read more about what Trust Agents is about, here is a link to Brogan's post: Thinking About Trust Agents
Where does trust fit? Are there examples of great trust you can share? Please do in the comment below.
Summary Sunday is a collection of posts from blogs, newsletters and other resources that I have come across and would like to share with job seekers and those trying to manage their careers. My hope is that you will find a new blog or source of information that you will begin to follow. (I am teaching you how to fish).
This week's summary begins with the post from Career Collective. This is a group of talented resume writers, branding experts and career coaches that provides their collective ideas on a particular question. I am honored to be included with this talented group. I hope you take time to read these posts...the question for the month of January was,"What can a job seeker do to make the most of 2010?"
Your search for a job is a major project and therefore requires project management skills. One of those is mapping out your activities. Most job seekers balk at the idea of tracking their search efforts. They don't see the purpose. Hopefully this post from CareerRocketeer will provide a new framework to see the importance. Plan and Execute Your Job Search Using Gantt Charts
I truly enjoy Nick Corcodilos' straight-forward approach. I am hoping that everyone reading this next post takes away a perspective on the darn resume. "How to Apply for a Job: The Working Resume" is from Ask the Headhunter.
Scot Herrick's Blog post "The Most Important Factor in Deciding to Stay or Leave a Job", offers a very good perspective on how to decide whether to stay or leave a job while inserting great thoughts about the "new world of work" (a job isn't for a lifetime).
If you are looking for insight on how social media is being used (by everyone), subscribe to SmartBrief on Social Media. Here is a link to the most clicked articles.
Branding isn't just for those who are career-minded. Even if you are just looking for a job, you need to understand your reputation and image. This monthly newsletter is filled with ideas and suggestions and thoughts. Reach Personal Branding Newsletter
Thanks for reading! Remember, if you like something, share!
Do you have a plan? According to a recent survey hosted by Robert Half, 82% of those surveyed said they were ready. The survey also asked who had an updated resume. 44% said it has been over a year since they've updated that document. Yikes! Almost half the people hadn't touched their resume in over a year. They aren't ready.
It certainly isn't all about the resume. But having one that is updated and ready to go at all times means something. It means that you are thinking about what you've accomplished in your job.
I would also venture to guess that those 44% are not active on LinkedIn either. If they are too busy to update their resumes, they probably don't see the value of LinkedIn. Nor do they realize that over 80% of recruiters and HR professionals are using this tool to source candidates.
How can 82% feel they are ready for a search if they don't have a plan? Do they think finding a job is easy? Are they not talking to the thousands of people who have been searching for months?
To all of you out there, get a plan. Even if you don't have a job yet. What will you do to continue building your network and look for your next great job while employed?
All the things you are doing right now in job search need to be continued once you land a job but most likely scaled back.
Ask yourself, "if I lost my job tomorrow, what would I do?" It is never going to be as easy as we think it is going to be.
You may not believe it, but people are landing jobs right now. You know how difficult it is to secure a position. What will you do to ensure you keep your new job? It isn't as easy as just showing up on time and doing your job well.
Figure out who you want to be. You have a clean slate. Consider how you want to be perceived by your new manager, co-workers and support staff. What is the "brand" you want to bring into this new organization?
Before you begin your new assignment, you will want to consider what your 30-60-90 day plan is for assimilating into your new role. This plan is not about performance goals, it is about your interpersonal and emotional IQ strategy. Develop lists of questions new need answered in order to be successful in your new role. Ask yourself about the who, what, where, when, why of the job. How will you get answers to the questions you cannot yet answer?
Develop your strategy for continuing to manage your career. Update your marketing plan. Identify professional development opportunities in and outside of your new company. Create time in your new schedule to continue to network. How will you keep in touch with all the people you've met over the past several months? How will you meet new people associated with your new role inside and outside your new company? What professional associations will you join?
If you want more information on this topic, check out these links:
Want to know the truth about your next job?
Starting A New Job? Remember These Things
Help...My New Job Is Stressing Me Out, from 6 Figure Career Management
Should You Make Waves at Work?, from Keppie Careers
http://www.fistfuloftalent.com/2009/05/why-starting-a-new-job-can-really-suck.html , from Fistful of Talent
One of the things I love to do is read new blogs. Some are good and others are great. I've recently found Blogging4Jobs. Actually, I think I first became aware of them on Twitter. (But that is a different story).
Their most recent post The Future of Work had some great food for thought as well as a very interesting Slide Share presentation.
My take-away from reading their post and watching the presentation is that times are changing! Duh. But things are really changing. Fast. Depending on what industry you've been in, you may or may not have known.
From the Slide Share presentation Jeff Brenman of Apollo Ideas :
Keep up with some of the interesting things going on in other industries or other part of the world of work. Read and learn outside of your comfort zone.
If you want to receive Career Sherpa blog posts in your email, spam-free, sign up on the right side bar of my blog.
If signed off on by President Obama, job seekers will have their unemployment benefits extended 14 more weeks. Read more about the bill here.
Let me ask a question: if you knew your benefits were ending this week or even next week, what would you do? What actions would you take? What would you change or do differently?
There is a small feeling of security knowing that there is at least some money coming in the door. It is guaranteed as long as you are playing by the rules. It is buying you time until you can land that "good paying" job. Well, where is that good paying job? When will it become available? Will it be there this year or maybe next year, or maybe not at all?
In my opinion, this extension is prolonging the delay in many workers going back to work. It is giving them the hope that they'll be able to secure another hefty paycheck, or at least a paycheck close to what they were making before. What if those jobs are gone and not coming back... or at least not in the quantities necessary?
I encourage everyone reading this to consider:
Many of you may have seen this video before, but it certainly gets you thinking...
How does this impact you?
How does this impact your work?
What changes can you make?
There are most certainly jobs available right now. Just not the ones you want. For the next year, things don't look like they are going to get any better.
The NYTimes had an interesting article on how the numbers of job losses over the past year may have been incorrectly estimated. This all goes to prove that we are certainly not out of the woods yet.
Some of the worst hit by the job losses over the past year are mid to senior level managers...those making $60K+ a year. It is also this group of people who are ill-prepared to seek employment. They have not had to search in a while. A large number of them also are 50+ years of age. Their values, dreams and goals did not include looking for work at this point in their lives.
I still contend their are jobs out there. However, I do realize that they may not pay what the mid to senior level managers used to make.
If one job isn't enough to pay the bills, then take two!
Or, you could continue to collect your entitled unemployment insurance.
Being employed is 100 times better than not being employed. And it doesn't really matter what you are employed doing. It just feels good to have someplace to go and something to do.
Take a job or two, just for the next year. You can still pursue jobs in your chosen career, it just requires more effort.
No, this will not necessarily hurt your career. We are in unprecedented times and most, if not all, HR and Hiring Managers understand that. If you can speak to what you learned and the accomplishments you had during your "off employment" term and how you benefited from the experience, you should be fine!
First, let's frame the question. "You are employed" could mean you've secured a job solely for income purposes. Or you've taken a job that is just that, a job, not something you are passionate about. Or, it is a short-term or contracted position. Or it is your dream vocation! If any of these apply, great. Next, what does job search mean? NETWORKING. How do you continue to network (for your career) when you are working?
The simplest answer is to just carve out time each week or month to do it. But obviously this is easier said than done. What is preventing you from doing it? Perhaps you don't know where or with whom to network. Remember when you were in job search you created a target list of companies? That is a great tool and now you need to go back and update it regularly. Use this tool to identify companies and people you would like to meet. Stop, look and listen for names in the news related to your passion. Add them to your target list.
Chances are, if you put them on your radar, you'll be able to think of a way to connect with them. Could it be virtually? Perhaps via LinkedIn or Twitter or even Facebook? Where would you find people from this company hanging out?
When connecting to these targets, you have to find a way to ease into a conversation as to not jeopardize your current employment situation. You don't want to overtly convey you are looking for a new job. To quote from my favorite movie, "These things have to be taken care of delicately" (said with your most wickedly witch voice).
Do they have expertise in an area related to your current job? You could ask to talk with them about that area of expertise.
Perhaps their company has overcome challenges that you would like insight on. Ask for advice.
Basically networking is networking. It was never asking for a job. It never will be.
Now that you have a job, you might be eligible of company training, conference attendance, or professional association meetings. Take your employer up on any or all of the above.
Carving out time is the most important part of this. Create your plan, put the time on your calendar and do it. It may be morning coffee, it may be afternoon coffee, it may be lunch. You must keep at it. Don't ever stop.
I just spent over an hour trying to research flights from Boston to sunny Key West. It would be easy if the connecting flights went through Miami or Atlanta, but alas, that couldn't be. So I searched for options with alternate connections.
What I found was, if your flight originates from Florida and you wanted to fly directly to Key West, guess what, it seems impossible, unless you live in Miami. Otherwise, you would have to fly from Florida to New York, New Jersey or Georgia to get to your destination back within Florida.
The airlines are troubled. I understand that, but when you end up on wild goose chases throughout the country, there's something wrong.
How about health insurance. I'll take that on too. You lose your job, you can't afford COBRA so, your options are? In New York, your choices are slim. You could attempt to apply for HealthyNY, but make sure your family income is really low. Perhaps you could attempt SSI, again, I hope you make close to nothing. Chambers of Commerce sometimes are an option, and sometimes a little better than COBRA. Those are your choices folks.
What are the solutions for the middle income? Risk not having any insurance? These are the people who will be facing a crisis soon. There is nothing in place for them.
Take the health insurance coverage out of the hands of employers and you have something portable, like life insurance, you own it, no matter your employment situation.
Our labor market has been more unstable. People are finding themselves suddenly and unexpectedly without a job. What if they can't afford health insurance? Once they get a new job, will their pre-existing conditions block them from gaining access to the coverage for the treatments they need?
OK, the other situation is that some people are so fearful about losing their health insurance, they hold onto jobs they don't like, do the bare minimum just to hold on to health insurance. That is not a win win. The employer gets less out of these employees.
I could go on and on about the health care issue. I don't know the best answer, perhaps none of us do, but please, it is so broken, almost anything would be better than doing nothing. Somebody, please, propose a solution.
It is hard to know if we are headed out of the recession or not. Some indicators point to yes, others, not so much. What I do know is that the end of Unemployment Insurance benefits will be ending for thousands of people in the upcoming months. This means you should be thinking about Survival Mode.
Securing a "Survival Job" takes months sometimes. Start planning today, for what you will do "if" you don't have a job by the end of your unemployment benefits.
What are some good survival jobs?
Anything in the service sector. Create a list of jobs you could do if you had to.
Some ideas might include: Facility maintenance, retail, telemarketing/customer service, bar tending/serving, landscaping/snow removal. There isn't a shortage of these jobs. Typically there is a higher rate of turnover, so jobs become available more often.
Is this hard to swallow? You haven't worked a retail job since high school. It is beneath you. It is embarrassing. You will never regain your social stature again.
My hunch is, in December/January, we will see a lot more ex-professionals entering into these jobs. So, you won't be alone.
I hear some of you saying that $8/hour isn't going to cover your mortgage and bills. You are correct! Guess what that means? You may have to work more than one job. And still that isn't enough? How else can you make money? Have you sold off all the gadgets and stuff you don't need? Cleaning house is a short term solution, but might net some cash.
I have friends who are holding on to their boats, paying for childcare, and drinking Starbucks while collecting unemployment...they'll probably need to re-evaluate this, and soon.
Have you really hunkered down and made deep cuts in your personal budget? Really, I mean slashed everything un-necessary. I am pretty frugal, forced rather than opted. One of the questions I ask myself a lot is "Do I want this or do I need this?" If you aren't familiar with Suze Orman, I recommend you read her information and watch her on television. She's smart and no-nonsense!
We have great lessons to learn from this experience. We'll need to remove the silver spoon from our mouths. We'll need to accept the fact that our jobs do not necessarily define us. We need to do what we need to do to survive. These skills are foreign to most mid-level professionals. They have built a career and never thought they would be in this situation. It isn't fair. But it is real.
At least make a plan, if you don't need it, it was worth the piece of mind.
One of the most commonly asked questions from job seekers today is "How do I stay motivated?" And it is no wonder, the majority of mid level career job seekers have been at it for months. They've faced rejection and indifference. Some are blaming the bad economy and age discrimination as the causes of their prolonged job search.
At some point, they need to look inside. What are they responsible for, what can they do to keep themselves on track.
Happiness cannot come from without. It must come from within. It is not what we see and touch or that which others do for us which makes us happy; it is that which we think and feel and do, first for the other fellow and then for ourselves.
-- Helen Keller
"I think I can, I think I can" is the motto of the little engine. He has a goal and a strong motivation and mission to get those toys to the children who so desperately need them. Quitting is not an option. He can't just leave the toys on the side of a mountain.
As a job seeker, starting with your mission, goal, most desperate desire, is one of the keys to staying motivated. However, let's face it, you lack survivability skills. You have never had to go through this before. You are ill-equipped to compete in this game. You probably don't remember what it was like to live pay check to pay check. Before you start with your mission and goal, what is your most desperate desire?
To keep food on the table, to keep a roof over your head, you need some money coming in. That should be motivation enough, according to Maslow's hierarchy of needs. Yet, that might require that you take some pretty undesirable actions. You might have to take a job below you, really below you. And perhaps you'll need to work more than one. There is no shortage of service sector jobs right now. And if you were to get creative or entrepreneurial, is there a service you could provide that would generate income... you earned?
I hear unemployment recipients tell me that they can't afford to take a job because it pays less than unemployment. Hmmm, work, self esteem, feeling valued, or, continue to collect unemployment? Are we a lazy society? Do we feel entitled to unemployment? Maybe. Yet when you look at the long term repercussions of collecting unemployment you see a lot of depression, lack of self confidence, anger, frustration, i.e., lack of motivation.
In honor of Labor Day, let's start laboring...really working, roll up your sleeves- get dirty and sweaty.
With the job market opening up and seeing people land jobs, it is probably a good idea to remind people how to keep this new job.
Starting a new job can be stressful- akin to starting college. You don't know many people and you aren't quite sure what to expect. Usually there isn't a mentor or guide assigned to help you understand what's what. So who do you turn to? What can you do to ensure success? Some might be thinking, "I'll just do my job really well". That isn't enough.
Starting a new job is a new beginning, a clean slate. You can create the right impression without the baggage you were carrying before. Some of your baggage might be good, other baggage should be left behind.
Determine what you want to be known for in this new company and job. What reputation do you want to start building? Then begin to learn about the company culture and your new manager. Here are some suggestions:
1) Ask your new manager for a meeting. During this meeting ask about the expectations of the job, time-lines, measurements for success, key players you should meet in the organization, and what pitfalls to avoid.
2) Observe co-workers, who knows who, what are they saying in the break room, how do they behave in front of managers and leaders.
3) Pick your friends. Carefully select the co-workers you chose to affiliate with. Begin building trusting relationships.
Now, you can begin doing your job really well. Be a positive person. Be able to find solutions, not excuses. There shouldn't be surprises if you've done a thorough job discussing expectations with your manager. However, remember, everything is subject to change. Be resilient.
I remember starting a new job once and asking my new manager, "What do you expect from me in this new job?". (Not the best question, first of all). The response I got was "I don't know." That's all. I quickly moved on to action items I would be targeting in the new job (again, probably not the right tactic, not being there long enough to know if these were important or not). I got a blank stare in return. What I failed to do was to develop a relationship.
Begin with the soft stuff first, find common ground, learn about each other. Then get on with the job.
On Great Leadership there was a post on how to be a good follower! It is filled with great advice.
If you are the kind of person who believes in studies and data from studies, then you have to read Robert Half's most recent study completed in conjunction with Career Builder EDGE 2009 Study:
The key findings include:
There's some good news in here. 6 in 10 employers are willing to negotiate for higher compensation and 40% of hiring managers will consider giving pay raises to retain top performers. These factors could increase the decreasing salary ranges we've been hearing and seeing.
On a more realistic note, it takes employers 4.5 to 14.4 weeks to fill a position. What this means is that it is going to take you longer than you expected or wanted to land that job. Be frugal.
Employers are also predicting that the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act will create jobs. This is foggy. The act doesn't specifically create jobs it is supporting initiatives. We'll wait and see on this one.
We've heard and seen that we're coming out of this recession. The hope I have is that we never forget and become complacent with our jobs and our lifestyles again. This was a wake up call, one long overdue.
It occurred to me last night as I was organizing ideas from a brainstorming meeting that "technology" isn't its own category any longer. It is incorporated into every function and every aspect of work today. We shouldn't look at technology as its own department or category.
The US workforce is aging. Many of these baby boomers folks didn't grow up with technology (aka computers). If they were lucky, they worked for a company that integrated computers and provided training and education.
Kids in preschools today have computers in their playrooms. They know how to use a mouse and click icons and use a keyboard. They have figured out how to use computers to play and learn.
There is a big divide in people's comfort level with computers and technology. So I say, technology is no longer just for the IT department to figure out. Technology is a component of every company and every job at every level.
You will find it very hard to apply for a job today without filling out an online application. We may find it very hard in the future to interview without Skype.
As a job seeker, have you incorporated technology as part of your search? I'm not just talking about an electronic version of your resume. Companies are using "technology based sourcing" in their quest for applicants. What this can mean is that there will be a learning curve beyond just "job search skills" you will also need to learn the technology associated with job search. Don't fall behind, begin bridging the divide today by taking on the challenge of learning about LinkedIn, Facebook and Twitter. One at a time. These don't replace job search skills, they are a part of job search. You'll use them to begin networking, they are simply tools used, not a replacement of the core skill of networking.
Let's take this into the job. Is there technology being used in your occupation today you are unfamiliar with? In most companies, it is a basic requirement of the job to know how to use it. Don't let this technology divide prevent you from being a candidate. Learn how to use all the technology associated with your profession. You could even go one step further and be on the cutting edge by learning about what's predicted to be the new trend for technology. You know some advancements will be coming soon.
It used to be that technology and computers were the responsibility of IT departments. Today, we are reguired to be our own IT department and must learn how to leverage technology in what we do every day.
You've been searching and interviewing and all for the pursuit of that golden ring (a new job)! The harsh reality is that 60+% of you won't be in that job 18 months from now. Why? Only a very small number of you didn't have the right skills to do the job. For the rest of you, it was a result of your Emotional IQ.
So, what can you do to protect your new position? Lots! Ronnie Ann at Work Coach Cafe listed 7 ways to insure your job by gaining more control over your Emotional IQ. For greater insight, you'll want to read her entire post here. I've paraphrased them below:
I will also add number eight (8)
8. Always be looking for your next job (networking and exploring)
I am not going to place all the blame on you or the employer. Interviewing is not an exact science. Everyone is trying their best to be a good employee and a good employer. If you treat this new job like a relationship- open dialog, honest communication and a desire to make it work, it just might.
More and more you hear about the studies stating that multitaskers are actually inefficient. Yet, more and more job postings state "must be able to multitask", should that read, "must be inefficient"? Here's a good article from CNN.
There is also a recent study that states that texting while driving is dangerous...duh! This is multitasking at its finest. There is really no way for you to simultaneously watch the road, create a message (requiring thought), and type it on an itty bitty keyboard.
Certainly there isn't an easy solution to this dilemma when imposed by others, however, when self-imposed, we do have the ability to correct and find FOCUS.
Focus can be short, clumps of time, when you work exclusively on one project, idea, campaign, target. This prevents the need to switch back and forth between different and frequently unrelated thoughts.
In speaking with one job seeker about her search activities she had identified 2 completely different paths, sales and direct service. As she interviewed and tried to start up a direct service business, neither got the full attention they needed to be successful. She couldn't give the activities the attention they required and as a result, neither turned out the way she had hoped.
Another example is a talented women who has developed a portfolio career around her talents as a writer and a marketing guru. She struggles to give the various "assignments" the attention she feels they deserve. Not only is this frustrating for her (a woman with high standards), it also hasn't allowed her to FOCUS on one with enough due diligence to make it as financially successful as she would like.
Again, no easy answers.
Life is a balancing act. It is moving incredibly fast. Finding a FOCUS and making it work is the challenge we are all faced with. Being all things to all people is similar to trying to teach a pig to sing.
What's life going to be like 1-3 years from now? Will businesses continue to layoff? Will things ever get back to normal?
In my constant quest for this answer, not just because I want to know, but the thousands of job seekers want to know too, I've come across several articles that are must reads in providing insight.
Global Recession Impact Has Permanently Changed the Rules of the Game for Corporates a study by Ernst & Young.
Why "Healthy" Companies Cut Jobs in a Recession from BNet
What Will Recovery Look Like? from Peter Weddle's Newsletter.
These articles point out several key predictions:
1) Companies will be leaner and meaner.
They are looking for strategic partners to limit their risks. This could mean an overall decrease in number of employees they will ever need. In economies of scale, if each business is focusing on it core line of product or service, how many more people will it take to produce the requests? Fewer than if each company had it's own division, right?
2) To compete globally, salaries will decrease.
Businesses can't afford to pay big salaries, just because. Who knows how this will impact some of the unions and government. They will most likely have to adjust too, yet probably more difficult given the complexities of how they work.
3) Jobs will be project-based due to the nature of the new business model.
From the employee perspective, what we're seeing are trends towards:
1) Seeking employment that is fulfilling and/or in sync with personal values.
2) Loyalty is redefined.
Tom Peter's wrote an article for Fast Company which is just as appropriate today as when he wrote it. Tom says:
"I think loyalty is much more important than it ever was in the past. A 40-year career with the same company once may have been called loyalty; from here it looks a lot like a work life with very few options, very few opportunities, and very little individual power. That's what we used to call indentured servitude.
Today loyalty is the only thing that matters. But it isn't blind loyalty to the company. It's loyalty to your colleagues, loyalty to your team, loyalty to your project, loyalty to your customers, and loyalty to yourself. I see it as a much deeper sense of loyalty than mindless loyalty to the Company Z logo."
3) Employees will need to manage their careers unlike ever before and find creative solutions to developing financial and personal stability.
I hope this forces some healthy dialog and discussion here and elsewhere. If you have other perspectives, I would be glad to share and discuss. I think we're all grappling for answers.
Pierre loves his job. I could tell from the minute I saw him. He walked with a lightness in his step and his head held high (not too high). He worked the room by engaging people in light, sometimes humorous conversation. He was comfortable doing that you could tell. Pierre followed up on the service being provided and went far beyond what he needed to to ensure the end result surpassed satisfactory.
What do you think Pierre does? He is the owner of Simply Crepes.
First of all, you know it takes a special person and incredible dedication to start their own business, not to mention a restaurant. He is that person. Everything he and his team did was to ensure a pleasurable customer experience and (perhaps more importantly) to develop relationships and connections that would nurture future business.
When you partner his energy and passion with his knack for developing relationships, you can see why he's successful. It isn't phony, he really loves what he does and he is so proud (not boastful) of his restaurant.
Pierre did more than his job. He didn't sit in a corner or back office tallying numbers or watching his team. He got in the game. Pierre pulled up a chair and asked questions to get to know us. He gently explained why his restaurant was different (as if we couldn't tell already). He knew us by name by the end of the evening and I walked out feeling like we'd met a new friend.
The lessons here are not only for business owners, but for everyone holding a job. Re-read the first paragraph and remember that you can exude those qualities too. No matter your job. These transfer to every job. Attitude, interpersonal communication skills, customer satisfaction (internal or external).
Do you delight your co-workers or fellow job seekers? Do you create memorable experiences people will remember? Do new acquaintances see you as their new "best friend"?
Go above and beyond where ever you can to make a lasting impression.
If you are like most baby boomers, you are looking forward to your well deserved retirement. It is the goal/dream you've literally been working towards your whole life. "Ah, the day I don't have to work for a living, I'll be doing ... _________________" fill in the blank. What will you be doing when you don't have to report to your job any longer?
Will you be happy playing golf 24/7, weeding the garden or watching the grand kids? So what will you do with all your free time? Sure, you can volunteer a bit. Will that fulfill your dreams? Many retirees struggle with how to feel fulfilled after they've retired. This feeling of boredom doesn't happen right away of course, it may take months. Then the itching to do something worth-while begins.
Doesn't it make sense to start planning today what you'll be doing? Perhaps you want to do some consulting work. You'll need to start building that business before you retire because you'll need work contacts to help spread the word. Starting a business takes time and money, you'll have a head start if you begin the process before you retire.
The other thing to consider is if you really will be content living on a fixed income for the rest of your life (perhaps 30 years). If that doesn't scare you, it should. Most people probably won't receive lifetime health insurance benefits. Those can be costly to pick up on your own. Will you have enough to pay for them?
What about your life-style. Will you be able to live the life you are accustomed to? What sacrifices will you have to make? If you don't want to initially make those trade-offs, what could you do to gain some income? What talent or expertise do you offer that would be of value to others? (ie. what would someone pay you to do?) This question should sound familiar if you've ever be unemployed.
It is never too early to create an awareness of your expertise/talents. Start today while those talents are fresh and alive. Build your brand so you can rely on it in the future.
I read a lot of blogs and here is some more great advice about planning for your next phase of life (we won't call it retirement, because that concept probably won't exist in the future).
While living a week without contact with the outside world, I convinced myself that the employment situation was improving. I began to believe that people were landing jobs, companies were feeling more confident and opening their hiring gates and that the worst was over.
A girl can dream, can't she?!
Then I read Peter Weddle's newsletter. (You will have to subscribe if you want to read the current issue. Archives of his past newsletters are available here and definitely worth subscribing to for free!)
Peter states that the recovery will be unlike that we've ever seen before:
"Because what's happening today among employers is not a traditional slimming down of the workforce to cut costs during a recession. In other works, it's not a temporary reduction in force. It is, instead, a permanent reduction in structure. Employers are fundamentally changing the model they use for organizing their places of work. As a result, they are eliminating positions, and those jobs are gone forever"
I believe what Peter is saying is true. The cushy corporate jobs won't exist any longer. We'll need to change what we are expecting work to be. We'll need to change how we look at our careers. We're in charge.
I know, it isn't fair. It goes against what we were taught to believe and expect. We'll need to adjust our expectations and it will be hard work.
If we accept this today, and begin planning for this new future, we'll be better off in the long run. You can continue to look for jobs in the "Big" companies and organizations, but you may find they aren't what they used to be.
Change your beliefs from it isn't true or it isn't fair or it isn't right to I AM IN CONTROL, I CAN DO THIS DIFFERENTLY.
And, by the way, if you are interested in my 6 word Memoir (from yesterday's post...)
Sharing Information. Holding Accountable. Better World.
Remember the "transporters" in Star Trek? You would step onto the platform and Scottie would transport you where you wanted to go. Pretty cool, right. It seems like everyone is trying to figure out what the next boon will be for our economy and world of work so that you can properly transport yourself to "boldly go where no man has gone before".
The Career Goddess wrote a summary of the Times article The Way We'll Work on the 10 ways the work world will be different. She leads into her post by saying:
"Well, hang on to your laptops because the changes that are coming are going to require forethought in career planning and in job search management. Better to get some advance notice, is my motto."
High Tech, High Touch, High Growth
Training Managers to Behave
The Search for the Next Perk
We're Getting Off the Ladder
Why Boomers Can't Quit
Women Will Rule Business
It Will Pay to Save the Planet
When Gen X Runs the Show
Yes, We'll Still Make Stuff
The Last Days of Cubicle Life
So if that isn't enough reading, try 4 Visions of the Post-Recession Workforce from Pongo. This references an article from CBS MoneyWatch.
1. Women will make up a majority of the workforce.
2. It will continue to be a Baby Boomer's world.
3. The federal stimulus will spawn growth in "green" jobs.
4. Flexibility can help workers maintain full-time schedules, but not necessarily at one job.
See the overlap.
I know the unemployment numbers are high, but people with a clear vision and resiliency and lack of fear are successfully securing new jobs every day. Beam me up, Scottie!
There are multiple reasons why people stop looking for work. For your own security, never stop.
Here are some examples:
No matter where you are or what you are doing, carve out a piece of time weekly to pursue your next opportunity. That could be your next career step or it could be just fishing for something. Keep your lines in the water.
Looking could also mean continuing to meet new people, keeping your connections with recruiters, leaving your alerts on and active on the job boards, continuing to participate in groups and discussions.
In two short hours, I learned a lot yesterday about life. It all happened while at the baseball field. I had our afternoon all planned out. One game at 1 pm. I double-checked the schedule that morning just to be sure. My youngest didn't have a t-ball game, I was sure. We would all go to the field and watch the game. Water bottles, check. Mitts, check. Hats and uniforms, check. Cleats, check. In the car on time, check.
Shortly after the game started I ran into a mom and her son. She said to me "We've got a game a 1:30 right?". For some reason I thought she was talking about the 1:00 game and replied "Yep". And thought nothing more of it.
Lesson 1: Having a plan doesn't mean it'll work out
Stay calm. Even the best laid out plans are interrupt-able. We didn't have the uniform, cleats, or mitt for my son's 1:30 game and it wasn't until 1:25 that we realized that there was a game. Thank goodness for the staying calm under pressure attitude of my husband, who came to the rescue.
Lesson 2: Don't miss the signs
If I had been paying attention to what was being said by that mom at the time she spoke with me, I would have been able to take faster action. Also, in hindsight, I had seen my son's coach when we arrived at the field, but my mind was focused on my plan, not the situation. Be open to changing your direction.
Lesson 3: If you don't know the rules, you can't break them
Watching kids play baseball is wonderful. My older son played catcher and didn't catch a single pitch. In fact, I don't think he even knew he was supposed to. The ball would miss his mitt and he would just wait for the next ball to come. He didn't try to pick up the balls that were rolling around the batter's feet. The coach did. I am pretty sure, in his mind, he was doing what he should do- squat behind the plate. It didn't bother him one bit that he wasn't doing the other things. He didn't know and I guess no-one had told him.
Lesson 4: Do what you love and the money will follow
From the bleachers, the mom of an assistant coach (teenager) was talking about his summer jobs. This assistant coach loved being outside. He didn't want to work a cash register indoors. Besides the lawn mowing and gardening odd jobs he did in his neighborhood, he had talked to a landscaper. His mom said that he wanted to get in with a landscaping firm now, so that after he had completed his schooling, he would already have a foot in the door with them.
Lesson 5: Have fun
With all the chaos and mishaps, both my boys had a great day. They fielded some good balls, whacked a couple of balls into the outfield and nurtured some friendships. We cheered each other on, laughed and... had fun.
These 5 lessons are what life is all about. They are also transferable to your job search which it absolutely why I wrote this story.
Kenneth Blanchard and Sheldon Bowles wrote the classic "Gung Ho". It is a business fable with an inspiring moral.
By using the characteristics associated with these three animals to serve as a model for a successful company, they have left an indelible mark in my head and heart of what is important and what an organization should strive to be.
The squirrel represents worthwhile work. Think about that industrious squirrel gathering nuts all summer long so it will have food for the winter. The squirrel understands the importance of what he must do. He also has to be WANT to do it.
The beaver represents doing the job well independently. He builds those beautiful dams without anyone telling him what to do or when. The beaver is driven by a clear message.
The goose doesn't fly alone. When flying in a "V" formation, the geese at the back of the "V" honk as if to say "Keep on flying, we're going great". We all need a little cheering and some words of encouragement.
Each of us has the responsibility of creating a work environment that incorporates these principles. Finding organizations with all three can be challenging however. So when it is lacking one of the animal's characteristics, be the goose, beaver or squirrel and create a culture you'll be proud to be a part of.
Need a summary: you can read The CEO Refresher.
The definition of commencement is a ceremony marking the beginning of a stage. How perfect. It has a nice ring to it. There are about 1.31 million people graduating from college according to the BLS. (Well, that is a projected number, I guess it is as close as we can estimate.) These 1.31 million added to the 13 million laid off equal over 14 million people beginning a stage.
14 million people are jumping into a new world of work. A world that no one can accurately forecast.
However, there is one definite, stable employer hiring right now. The earth!
In Paul Hawkins' commencement address to University of Portland grads, he puts forth new challenges to these graduates.
Hawkins says:
"Basically, the earth needs a new operating system, you are the programmers, and we need it within a few decades."
No pressure there. We are focusing our sights on health care, educational services and technology. We, the oblivious, self absorbed workforce. What we are ignoring is the bigger picture. Without a planet to live on, none of those things will matter.
Hawkins reminds us that:
"This planet came with a set of operating instructions, but we seem to have misplaced them. Important rules like don’t poison the water, soil, or air, and don’t let the earth get overcrowded, and don’t touch the thermostat, have been broken."
There are millions of people in the world working together behind the scenes. Their mission:
"Rather than control, it seeks connection. Rather than dominance, it strives to disperse concentrations of power."
The finale in Hawkins address can't be summarized, so I have quoted him directly.
"Ralph Waldo Emerson once asked what we would do if the stars only came out once every thousand years. No one would sleep that night, of course. The world would become religious overnight. We would be ecstatic, delirious, made rapturous by the glory of God. Instead the stars come out every night, and we watch television.
This extraordinary time when we are globally aware of each other and the multiple dangers that threaten civilization has never happened, not in a thousand years, not in ten thousand years. Each of us is as complex and beautiful as all the stars in the universe. We have done great things and we have gone way off course in terms of honoring creation. You are graduating to the most amazing, challenging, stupefying challenge ever bequested to any generation. The generations before you failed. They didn’t stay up all night. They got distracted and lost sight of the fact that life is a miracle every moment of your existence. Nature beckons you to be on her side. You couldn’t ask for a better boss. The most unrealistic person in the world is the cynic, not the dreamer. Hopefulness only makes sense when it doesn’t make sense to be hopeful. This is your century. Take it and run as if your life depends on it."
Think about the top Fortune 500 companies for a second. Well, maybe not all of them, but the automakers, IBM, Xerox, Kodak, those guys. They were running profitable businesses for long time. They were utilizing lean principles, six sigma, and other quality initiatives. They probably also were committed to implementing and sharing "best practices".
In this rapidly changing world, what these mammoths were unable to to was implement really new ideas. To do this would require innovation and risk taking beyond what they were capable of. Katie Konrath wrote a post on Personal Branding Blog citing CK Pralahad's opinion on the topic of innovation.
"Unfortunately, when a company gives all their focus to “best practices”, they actually set themselves up for failure in the future. Why? Because the very thing that makes them improve (intense internal focus) is what hurts them in the long run".
Pralahad calls the innovation "next practices". We have to be able to see the forest through the trees. Looking ahead and outside instead of intense internal focus. Not just as a business but as individuals also.
Continuous improvement and best practices are important. However, mixing in some innovation is also necessary.
Manage your career as if you were an innovative business. Strive to create excellent customer service, push the boundaries of what that means. Be passionate about the work you do. Manage spending and budgets like it was your own money. CareerSuccess! has a helpful post on thinking like a business which is truly worth the read. It talks about the nine elements of successful business:
Demonstrate passion
Provide outstanding customer service
Take caring of your people
Exceed expectations
Go the extra mile
Create systems
Look for opportunities to improve
Be frugal
Look to the future
We are all now responsible for managing our careers. Develop the tools required to take your business to the next level!
Well, it took about 15 years for me to get here, but I made it. Where? To a place where I am connected to my community. I was raised in a family who played active roles in their community so I knew how it should feel. It is just hard to do when you are a transplant. It takes time to develop relationships and trust and a feeling of belonging. It also requires a focused commitment. You have to want it. Where was I focused for the first 15 years? Me, my work, my co-workers. Was I satisfied, well, I thought I was. And I felt like I was on the right track. It was very one dimensional.
Feeling connected for me is walking in to a store or a church and knowing people by their names and having them know mine. It means talking with someone you see once a week like they were a long lost cousin, with something to catch up on and never a loss of words. That is very difficult for me, being a self diagnosed introvert.
Having a role in your community can be as simple as feeling connected. It doesn't mean you are leading, it just means you are present.
There was a horrific tragedy in the high school in my town almost two weeks ago and I had been observing from the outside; watching the media, reading the paper, talking to parents. It wasn't until yesterday, I felt the true magnitude of what had happened. With tears streaming down my face, I listened to the man who was active in managing the aftermath of the event. It wasn't a press conference so he had let down his guard. He spoke eloquently and with emotion. He was supported and congratulated by the others in the room and was further humbled by our recognition.
It shouldn't take an extreme event to bring a community together, but we've seen it happen before. Remember the feelings after 9/11? The re-prioritizing of life towards family and friends?
Being part of a community, in good times and in bad, is the "back to basics" kind of living that is fulfilling, or dare I say, that we were all meant to be a part of. Imagine what differences we could all make by having a role.
Greed, otherwise known as one of the seven deadly sins, impedes upon our ability to be fulfilled.
In other words, those people you know who have spent their lives accumulating wealth are happier, why? Their lives are better, why? Life isn't about money, winning, having it all. I believe it is about balance, love, and doing the right thing.
As a Gen X'er, I have frequently found myself looking at the older generation (The Boomers), and saying, what are they doing and how short sighted. They shipped the jobs oversees to make extra money. They are draining social security without thinking about the next generation. They've taken CEO salary levels to insane levels. They ignored Mother Earth. Everything they have done seems to have been focused on putting more money in their pockets.
Other Gen X'ers I know have thrown in the towel. They are looking for balance in their lives. They want to make sure that the work they are doing is more than putting money in their pockets, it is also fulfilling. Whether this mentality is grown out of necessity or different values or something else is an interesting study.
The United States has outsourced most major manufacturing, which has left us to be a nation of service providing businesses. The predicted growth can happen in industries that provide a direct service, one that cannot easily be shipped off-shore to cheaper nations.
Services provided both to business and services supplied to people might be seen as somewhat recession-proof.
So rather than chase after the almighty dollar, perhaps more of us will be seeing an opportunity that will allow for a balanced life, the ability to pursue doing the right thing and opportunity to love and care for one another.
Starting your own business is definitely not for everyone. Could it be an option for you?
Do you have what it takes to be an entrepreneur? Here are some of the qualities that make a successful business owner
Most businesses will fail within the first 3 years. So it can be a risky proposition.
If you are thinking you might have what it takes, talk to people who have started their own businesses and failed as well as succeeded. Each one has a valuable story with lessons learned.
There are lots of on-line resources (local and national). A new resource available is called Business Information Clearinghouse (BIC).
Another resource is the Small Business Development Center (SBDC)
Still another is SCORE
Look before you leap. Do a thorough self assessment and have a lot of conversations. Starting your own business can be scary, however, it can be possible.
It's fun looking for a job full time, isn't it?! You really enjoy claiming Unemployment Insurance every week too, right? You feel useful, productive and valued for your contributions. There is nothing worse than what you are experiencing right now. Yet, it will not last forever.
Use this time to figure out what you really want to do. Discover something you will enjoy doing.
You can start off working one or two days a week. If you work an assignment/job just 2 days a week, in most cases you will still be able to claim 1/2 of your UI benefits. (This varies by state and depends on how much you make those 2 days).
Another option is to take a 2-3 week assignment doing something new or exciting. You just won't claim UI benefits that week. You don't lose any money really, it extends the term of you Unemployment Insurance (you still have 12 months to use it).
Better yet, you could find a job in an other area of the country and commute home, taking you off Unemployment Insurance all together.
The government has tried to help by offering Unemployment Insurance and increasing the length of time people can have access to it, however, what I've seen is that this creates dilemmas... you really want to work, doing anything, but you make more on unemployment than you would in a minimum wage job. Each day you are unemployed it can become more difficult to feel self-confident. Sometimes you begin to doubt your own abilities. The best cure for these feelings is to do something, anything and get paid for it. It is amazing what this does for the spirit.
Stretch your mind, think about creating new possibilities for yourself and see what happens!
I am sure you have either seen or heard of Susan Boyle by now. It is worth watching her again. Video of Susan Boyle
Susan's dream is to become a famous singer. She is now 47 years old and has been singing since she was 12. Right now we can only speculate what series of events led to her to compete in Britain's Got Talent.
Could it be her dream was always to become a famous singer? Did she listen to the naysayers who said she couldn't, wouldn't, shouldn't?
She's unemployed. Did she reach the point of re-invention by crisis? When we have lost things that are dear to us, sometimes we are forced to re-evaluate who we are. Who are you? If you were to lose everything, what would you have left?
It seems to me that Susan has always loved singing. It has been a part of her life since she was 12. I would love to know what motivated her to compete. Certainly there were other opportunities in her life to sing in public.
Each one of us has incredible, inspiring talents, just like Sharon. If we can follow our dreams, take a chance and do what we need to do to be found, ours could be the next Susan Boyle story.
Dream! Thank you Susan for the inspiration and the valuable lessons we all took away from watching you!
It's been months since you lost your job and you are frustrated. Maybe it is time to put "Plan B" into action.
Having a job, any job, usually makes you feel better than facing all the rejection or indifference.
Having a job gives you something to do. It provides income. It gives you a sense of worth and value.
So how do you chose what your "Plan B" job will be? First, you will need to sit down in a quiet place and brainstorm all the things you love, LOVE, to do. Do not filter out things that might seem unrealistic, silly, or "I can't make money doing this".
If this is difficult, it should be. Keep going. Think of the things you enjoyed doing as a kid. Think about your favorite job ever. What was your dream growing up?
Once you've brainstormed, enlist the help of a true friend. Someone who you trust. Someone who will not shut your ideas down (A spouse might not be the best person to use at this time in the process, unless your spouse is very open minded and incredibly supportive.)
Securing a "Plan B" job can take as much time as a real job. Start today trying to line one up. Don't send a resume or fill out an application. Call on the phone or stop by in person. Explain why you want to work there.
It may sound something like:
"I eat at your restaurant pretty regularly and really enjoy the people who work here and the customers who come here. I love your food and know that I could do a great job representing you. There's a little extra time in my day and I would like to be doing something worthwhile and make a little money. Is their a shift you might need some help with?"
Don't give up. If they don't seem interested now, they may be later. Move on, check in with another place that does something similar.
Always convince them that you are interested in working specifically for THEM. Flatter their large but fragile egos.
Here are some regional Plan B opportunities that are gearing up right now:
Here are some other Plan B options that are usually hiring:
Employers in these organizations want to hire someone who is reliable and will do the work and will stay longer than a couple of weeks. Convince them you have what it takes to do this.
I know these don't sound like dream jobs. You might even be angry at me for suggesting these things. Good. Come up with some other creative solutions and let me know. I'll post them here!
How is this rebuilding of roads and infrastructure projects going to help the thousands of unemployed investment bankers, mid managers, and others?
Really great question. I think it is the "trickle up" theory.
Repairing of roads and new construction efforts will require:
These laborers will have money to buy food, gas, personal items and who knows what else.
The lumber mills and steel manufacturing plants will need more widgets to keep their equipment running in tip top shape (Good news for all the widget makers in the US). They will also need to hire more people to run their machines. This might mean more HR help or accounting help to manage payroll. They might also need buyers to source raw materials at the best prices (a savvy investment banker could transition into a buyer with a little work)
So now we have added money to the economy in:
Banks will begin seeing more money deposited and this should generally help them stabilize.
Green Jobs will also be on the rise through the investment of funds. This can create the same type of trickle up effect. Who knows what other new types of green job opportunities might come out of this.
Know one knows for sure if this will work, but one thing is for sure. Re-invention and open-mindedness are crucial to our personal success.
Start reading about the projects going on in your area and begin brainstorming what services or products might be needed to support them. Team up with others and create opportunities that might not exist. Put a new spin on the old ways of doing things.
For more information on the The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, visit their (our) website here. For NY State's plan, see this link.
Everyone should read Seth Godin's Guest Blog post "Don't Try to Get A Job" on What Would Dad Say.
I believe what Seth is trying to say is that trying to start you own small business stretches the mind. It forces you to clarify what your strengths are and provides an outlet for passion.
These are the things that employers are looking for. Risk takers, great problem solvers, passionate. This is how we all want to be seen by a potential employer, not desperate and vulnerable. So where's the harm?
Miriam Salpeter, Keppie Careers, posted a strong argument against why starting your own business isn't a solution. She contends that not everyone is cut out to follow Seth's advice.
Nick Carcodilos, Ask the Headhunter, provides examples of how to put Seth's advice into action. Nick says
"First, if you’re never gonna try to start your own business, you should nonetheless approach your next job like it’s a business."
Thanks to Seth for getting everyone thinking. I see the challenge as most unemployed people are going to have a hard time getting to this mindset. It is a huge paradigm shift. However, I believe once they can embrace this new way of thinking, it will be incredibly liberating and empowering!
I am not sure why this even needs addressing. Of course these are my opinion and are not necessarily those of my company. I see this a lot on the blogs I read.
Why are we so cautious, consumed with being politically correct?
I am not endorsing loose canons. I am merely pointing out that we are human beings not programmed computers immune from making imperfect decisions or communicating without flaw.
In this week's "The Week" magazine, which, by the way, I love reading! Contained two nuggets relating to this idea.
One, Obama apologized to the Chairman of the Special Olympics for a comment he made about how his bowling looking like he was competing in the Special Olympics. Sarah Palin, remember her, jumped on the bandwagon and criticized the President for his comment. Let me ask how else he might have made this statement? Do you believe that he was trying to insult or show negative bias against people with disabilities? Or was he just simply drawing an analogy?
Can we just make a comment without being judged on what the deeper meaning might be? Lighten up Francis. Stop taking everything so personally.
The other article summary in "The Week" discussed how we should read and listen to opinions different from our own. By nature, the article says, we are drawn to like-thinking. It recommends working-out your brain by reading ideas far from your own or at the very least different. Listen to these new ideas.
If we continue to do the same things, we will continue to get the same results. Maybe stretching our brains and speaking our minds isn't such a bad thing these days?
Rather than feel like Chicken Little, running around squawking "The end is near", I just have to believe that the information below is on track.
Right now we are all cutting back (businesses as well as individuals), unsure when, not if, things will turn around.
But businesses can only continue to exist if they are re-inventing themselves and have a plan for growth in the future. They are operating with minimal employees right now, trying to wait out this recession. That is why I believe this data makes sense. Not all, but many businesses will have some sort of a growth strategy, and that will require creating and/or filling positions in Business Development and Sales. It should also result in the need for marketing and operations folks to carry out the message and delivery of their re-invented products and services,
Where Recruiters See the Greatest Growth in Exec Hiring in Next Six Months
Business development-17.3%
Sales-15.0%
Engineering-10.4%
Operations management- 8.7%
(incl. supply chain, logistics, quality)
Marketing- 8.7%
Consulting- 8.2%
Finance- 7.9%
Research and development- 7.7%
Source: ExecuNet This information came from a free, ExecuNet newsletter linked above.
Keep an eye out to re-invent yourselves based on what you know about your occupation and industry trends. The future looks bright through my eyes, at least for those with the desire to adapt.
It is hard to say exactly how long this recession/depression will last. I am sure there are experts who think they know, but do they really? We are living in a world where things are changing so quickly-quicker than ever before in history. If the experts are basing their hypothesis on historical data, is that applicable to today's world?
I am hopeful.
This is a re-make of a video that has been circulating for awhile. In my mind, there are several take aways:
Watch and ask yourself what does this mean for me?
Everything happens for a reason. Perhaps this situation we find ourselves in right now was to serve as a wake-up call. Were our values out of whack?
Now is a really good time to re-evaluate what is important to you in your life. Seldom do we have the time or mental capacity to do this exercise, yet it is SO worth doing. Try ranking the following professional/personal values.
Being content with my work
Having major accomplishments
Being well liked
Being creative
Serving others
Having authority over others
Inventing something new
Advancing my career
Making my own decisions
Being competitive
Having high income
Having status
Choosing my work location
Feeling needed and appreciated
Pursuing excellence
Having low work stress
Spending time with family and friends
Have time freedom
Collaborating with others
Working for the environment
Being well known
Having power
Being independent
Having job security
Taking risks
Having interests outside of work
Being self motivated
Being loyal at work
Challenging myself athletically
Being active in the community
Gaining new knowledge
Influencing others
Being part of a team
Challenging myself intellectually
But don't stop there! Visualize what your a day in your ideal life would be like. Start at the very beginning of the day. Walk through hour by hour and describe what you would be doing, the activities and surroundings.
Phew! This should feel great. Now, what will it take to make this happen? What do you need to be able to accomplish this?
Does it seem un-obtainable? It can be. Take baby-steps. Today, what is one thing you can do to bring you closer to this goal of the ideal life? What will happen if you don't take this step vs. what will happen if you do?
No one has asked me why I list "Village Life in America"on my favorite books section of my blog, so, I will tell you anyway. It is a wonderful juxtoposition to the other books. Village Life is the diary of a girl living in a small town in the 1800s. It describes her daily activities and how historically significant events impacted her life. It was a different world in the 1800's, but not that different. The community supported each other like, I believe, the community will support each other today.
I am a believer in fate or destiny or whatever you want to call it. The experiences we have in this life are connected, our responsibility is to figure out what the connection is and what it means.
As you search for your next opportunity, pay attention to the signs. Don't overlook something because it doesn't pay enough, or it isn't enough hours. Ask yourself, "what might happen if I take this job"?
Do contract or temporary jobs turn into full time positions? Quite frequently- if you do your job well and fit into the company culture. If it doesn't work out, what have you learned about yourself and about others?
7 years ago, I had no idea what a career consultant did. I had never heard of outplacement services either. I was interviewed for the job, which by the way, was a referral from a previous co-worker, and almost instantly thought, "this is it"! It was the perfect blend of my past experiences and upbringing. At that point in my life, I wasn't really looking for work, but I made the timing work. I found my new passion in work.
Several years later, when the work had slowed, another opportunity presented itself to interview for a contract position. It was not ideal, the hours were small, but, heck, it was something. I took this job and for many months paid out more in day care than I made in the job. I didn't know what would happen, but in my mind, some work was better than none. When my husband lost his job, magically or coincidentally, my employer had a full time opportunity to offer me.
At a gathering of girl friends, we each drew a card from a deck, an inspirational card. Mine read "Life is not a destination, it is the joyous journey".
I have this posted by my computer at work as a reminder to enjoy the experiences and learn from them. They all connect.
We sometimes turn off the radar that assesses the combined experiences in our lives. Keep the radar on. Be open to new ideas and opportunities.
The era of climbing the corporate ladder are dead and gone for the most part. This creates the wonderful opportunity for us to pursue what is meaningful to us and to not expect to be given anything. It is up to each of us to create a meaningful life.
There was an article in the NYTimes this week about the conditions of the labor market in a Wisconsin town that lost over 4,000 GM jobs. These overpaid ($28/hr) workers are now being forced to re-tool themselves for jobs that won't come close to paying them what they used to make. Here is a sample of the transitioning career paths:
Electrician to Radiology Technician
Truck Driver to Logistics and Warehouse Management
Machine Operator to Veterinarian Assistant
Employee to Restaurateur
The US economy used to be a balance of manufacturing and service sector jobs. However, that changed. We don't make many things in the United States today. That means that the millions of people with manufacturing backgrounds will have little choice but to take their careers in a new direction.
The NY State Dept of Labor publishs monthly newsletters. In the latest edition, it stated that in the Finger lakes there were over 1,500 new jobs created in Educational and Health care services from 2007 to 2008. Not huge numbers, but one of the few growing industries in the region.
So the message that I am passing along is this: Think service, think independent, think global marketplace. Any job that physically requires that you touch or help isn't going anywhere yet.
We can't even predict what the "in demand" occupations will be 10 years from now (though they still try). That comes from the DOL. It is so difficult to predict what the future holds. You can look back historically to see how this country rose out of previous recessions, but all those times this country's makeup was hugely manufacturing based. That isn't the case, we can't hope that making more cars, tanks, airplanes, anything, will bring us out of where we are. The jobs that are hopefully going to come from the current stimulus package are foggy. However, this we know. They won't be paying $28/hr.
Re-tooling and re-budgeting are the answers. Down size personal budgets. Simplify your life style. If you can't make a lot of money, then you might as well love what you do!
When you have a slippery, wrathing fish on the line, sometimes it is hard to get it in the boat or once in, keep it inthe boat. The same is true with a new job. Rounds of interviews with a company, nibbles, a strike, it takes skill to land that job. You get close, you are a finalist, you feel the excitement, you can taste the new job. Stay calm, easy does it! Yes, you are in. But once you have this job, you need to hold on to it.
I see repeat job seekers regularly. For a number of reasons, their new jobs have ended and they are back on the job seeking waters, angling for another job.
Here are the top 3 things you need to do when you land the big job:
1) Understand who the big fish are in this little pond: Ask good questions and understand who, why, and where these key decision makers are.
2) What are the weather conditions like for next 100 days? What do they expect you to do? Really drill them on their priorities, how will you know you have met their expectations?
3) Become the trophy fishermon (new generic term). Identify ways to make them believe they hired the right person, that they won big by hiring you. Be likable, take on a special project, be a super team member, master your job quickly.
Be so careful about making suggestions for improvement without doing research first. If you criticize a process the president implemented, you run the risk of being thrown overboard, or at least being scrutinized.
You are more vulnerable to being thrown back into the waters because they don't know you as well, they haven't had a chance to really "love" what you can do, and they don't have the financial investment in you. You don't want to look too small, too sickly, too bony, too anything that would get you thrown back.
More simple rules on holding on to a job have been posted on What Would Dad say.
There are still some unions out there. Are they really doing what they set out to do?
I had a great discussion last night with a man who works with an agency within the State of NY and his wife, who is a former teacher and was a member of the Teachers Union.
They both emphatically supported unions. I, on the other hand, have been against them, and was trying to understand why their organizations need unions while most private sector jobs no longer do.
The biggest advantage for both of those unions, according to my friends, was that they help protect employment (keep people employed).
In the case of a teacher, who may be exposed to the wrath of an upset parent who decides to get revenge on a teacher, the union serves as a supporter for the teacher's rights and will represent the teacher, sometimes when the administration won't or can't. This sounds like a problem with the administration within school districts to me.
In the case of a state worker, same thing, it ensures that the rights of the state employee are represented in case the director or deputy director of the agency is unable or unwilling to support them. Again, sounds like there's a problem among the higher ranking management.
From my "unbiased" vantage point, I am still unsure why any employee is deserving of outside representation or support. We don't have that in the private sector. If a company wants to fire us, they can. In NY State, they can do so for no reason at all. While this is not a good thing at all for employees, it is a condition we have all learned to except and respond to.
I don't believe that anyone should be entitled to a job, no matter how long or short a period of time they have been in that position. In my opinion, those who know that they could be replaced might try harder to perform their jobs well. Yet on the other hand, living with the fear of being let go can wear on the nerves.
What if all employees had union representation? What if all employers had to go through a tedious and lengthy process in order to let employees go? What if the union set standard pay bands for jobs to ensure all companies compensated the same? Would this change the volitile employment situation we have today? Would companies be able financially survive and compete?
Unions served a crucial role in the past...maybe it is time to re-invent them and bring them back.
How do you do that? Is it possible? What control do you really have? If your employer decides to let you go, what can you do about that?
All these are great questions. Recession-proofing your career is about preventative maintenance. You visit your doctor annually, the dentist twice a year and you take your car in for an oil change when your supposed to (my mechanic lectured me on this several months ago). These preventative analytics are taken because they are an investment in your future. The same preventative maintenance should be/must be taken with our careers.
Step 1: Assessment
What are your talents, skills, and abilities?
What do you want to do next?
Where could you do this?
Do you need anything to reach this goal?
Step 2: Research
What do you know about the companies who might hire for this next opportunity?
Who are the people who hire for the job you would want?
Who do you know who works there or who has worked there?
Step 3: Presenting Yourself
When you describe what you do, does it sound valuable?
Is your message clear, focused?
Does everyone know what you can do?
How can you get the message out to more people?
Does your resume “sell” your talents?
Step 4: Project Management
What do you need to be doing to reach your goal?
How do you make time to follow your plan?
How can you most efficiently budget your time?
Step 5: Communication/Self Awareness Strategies
How confident are you in speaking about your abilities?
Have you identified your value to an organization?
How do you talk about your successes to a stranger?
Step 6: Project Evaluation
How do you know what you are doing is working?
Are your time lines and goals realistic?
The true key to recession-proofing your career is being in control and you do that by always having an eye on the future. Always be asking yourself, "What do I want to do next and where could I do that?".
Don't wait to be laid off to start this. Start today. The mindset of the unemployed is usually filled with a lack of confidence and desperation.
You are in control of where you are going, that is, if you know where you want to go.
Career Sherpa: Guide for navigating extreme career terrain
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