|
|
 |
Living
Boldly® e-Zine Archives
Career
in Crisis -- What should you do?
February 24,
2003
Many of the people I've been meeting lately seem to be in a
career crisis of one sort or another. Sometimes, they've been downsized from a
job they held for years, and they are not only having trouble finding a new job
in their field of expertise, but this stressful time is having a domino effect
on the rest of their lives. Sometimes, they may have a job but be miserable in
it - feeling undervalued, under-appreciated, and that their skills are
under-utilized. Perhaps they're burned out - this is often especially true of
professionals and executives in certain industries such as the financial sector
and high-tech/internet, where just a few years ago these were "the" places to
be, now those industries are really struggling.
When your career is
in crisis, it may feel almost like the end of the world. You may feel, in large
part, as if your life is spinning out of control, especially if you were laid
off from your job and the economy is making it difficult to find the kind of
work you want. If most of your friends and family are doing OK, career-wise,
you may even notice a sense of isolation, as if no one can really understand
the roller-coaster of emotions you are experiencing right now.
Just
know, for starters, that it is normal to have your emotions in a "see-saw" mode
- some days really down, other days more up and feeling "normal". Being in flux
in your career is one of the most unsettling situations we can experience as
adults. After all, most of us are very vested in our careers and in the image
and lifestyle we have created for ourselves because of those careers, and it's
hard when things aren't going the way you planned or wanted.
Let's
talk about some things you can do to help yourself when your career is in
crisis. In this issue, it's all about the "tips" - tips that can support you
whether you are searching for a job, looking to improve your skills in your
current job, or seeking an entirely new profession! Just choose those that most
closely apply to your situation and then begin to act on them, right away!
Remember - you can't always control outside events, but you CAN have some say
in what you choose to do about them and how you allow events to affect you, and
taking positive action will allow you to regain some measure of control over
your life. Are you ready? Let's go!
1. Make a list of your strengths (don't
focus on what you perceive to be your weaknesses).
2. Review your
resume to make sure you are truly showcasing those strengths. Don't just list
"statistics" - let your enthusiasm and passion shine through!
3. If
you need help with your resume, visit
www.Monster.com and check out
their resume tips!
4. Take a few minutes, and review in your mind all
the past jobs you have ever had. Make 2 lists - one list will contain what you
really liked or enjoyed about each job, the other will contain the list of what
you did NOT like. It's just as important to know what you DON'T want as it is
to know what you DO want, and this exercise will help you.
5. Take
these lists and use them to craft a vision for your IDEAL job or profession.
Don't just focus on the usual things like salary, benefits, commuting time -
don't forget equally important things like: what kind of environment do I work
best in, what kind of PEOPLE do I feel energized by when I work with them, do I
want to work on a team or do I prefer more solo work, what are the personality
traits of the kind of management I work best with, etc.
6. If you
want to change careers but aren't sure what you want to do next, try these two
resources as a starting point: www.keirsey.com has an online assessment that not only gives
you the same results as a Myers-Briggs Personality Type Indicator test (for
only $29.95) but also provides you with a career assessment report (for the
same fee) that will give you insights into strengths and possible careers. If
you want to take it a step further, get the book
"Do What You Are" by
Tieger and Barron-Tieger, that also uses the MBTI results to help people hone
in on an ideal career. I used this test and book 7 years ago when I wanted a
career change and it led me to becoming a coach!
7. If you are having
difficulty sorting through your options, try taking a break from all that
THINKING, find a quiet place where you can be still, and just ask yourself
quietly - "what do I really want for my life?" Then (and here's the hard part)
you have to be still for a while so you can let the answer come to you. It
might come as a tiny "voice" or a thought - but don't ignore it or brush it
aside as silly. It might not even come right away - if you're not used to
creating quiet moments in your life, it may take you awhile to allow yourself
to do this, but keep doing it and the answers will come!
8. If you
are experiencing boredom or burnout in your current job or profession, you need
to look at several possibilities: (1) you can try to find some new ways of
staying where you are but trying to spark some new creativity or excitement in
your present job; (2) you can try finding a new job in the same profession, if
it's merely a change of scenery that you need; or (3) you need to consider an
entirely new career. But doing NOTHING about your current burnout is not really
an option - it could lead to a serious depression as well as stress-related
health problems.
9. Network, Network, Network! I can't stress this
one strongly enough - in a tight economy where good jobs are not plentiful,
sometimes "who you know" is the key to success. Join Toastmasters, join a
professional association, a chamber of commerce, a social club. Make lunch
dates or set up meetings for coffee or breakfast. And the networking should be
a 2-way street - it's not all about what the other person can do for YOU, but
what do YOU have to offer THEM as well. Look for alliances that can create
win/win opportunities for both of you!
10. Continue to focus on your
professional AND personal development. Invest in reading books and magazines,
listening to tapes or CDs of programs that can help you learn a new skill or
acquire some special knowledge; take some classes, either at your local college
or adult school, or even via Teleclasses which are convenient and inexpensive;
go to professional conferences in your industry (great place to network, too!);
hire a career coach to help you sort through your career options and create a
powerful strategy for moving to the next level in your career - and your life!
People who focus on life-long-learning are the ones who seem to be able to
create success consistently throughout their lives - be one of them!
Using the tips above, see how many of them apply to YOUR career crisis, and
come up with at least 5 specific action steps you can take in the next 2 weeks,
whether it be making some lists, making some phone calls, attending a
networking function, setting aside 2 hours to revamp your resume.
Your life can't change if you don't take action - so stop procrastinating and
simply START, right now!
For permission to
reprint this article, please contact
me.
|
Why struggle with your writing, and why wait?
Contact me today to discuss your project!
|
The Writing Coach's
Guide