Survey: Where Are You In Your Career?

Take a second to answer two quick questions and receive a preview chapter from my upcoming book, Career Mapping: Finding Your Dream Job When who you are, what you do, and what you believe are integrated into the kind of work you do, feelings of satisfaction, contentment, and fulfillment will abound. But you have to take responsibility for your career.

The Courage to “Know”

I’m back after a bit of a hiatus. I daresay I have been caught up in the rapture of love (as Anita Baker would say). I got married on December 19 after being divorced for 11 years. My now-husband, Thomas, and I “knew” we wanted to be together only 23 days after we met and it was a total of 93 days before we walked down the aisle. Most friends and loved ones cheered, a few were anxious but supportive and others we downright dubious. Both Thomas and I have made BIG decisions before and were undeterred by the few naysayers. Moreover, and rather miraculously, we both trusted our intuition – our knowing – about one another. We “knew” and still “know” that this is the relationship we’d each been waiting for all our lives AND we had the courage to take the big step. So as a career coach Learn more...

Visibility, Personal Branding and Reputation

So as a linguistics major in college, I became a bit of a stickler for semantics.  Most words and terms have clear definitions, others are nuanced, some are downright obscure.  When it comes to aspects of one’s professional image there are distinct differences between “visibility”, “personal branding” and “reputation.”  These aspects are not mutually exclusive, but interrelated.  You decide the degree to which you want to actively manage any or all.  Here’s my take: Visibility – Some people like to be seen at events, conferences, etc.  They are expert at positioning themselves for the photo op and put stock in the value of their appearance in the pages of social, business or other publications.  In the absence of other more substantive positioning, this feels cheap and hollow and begs the question “If you are out all the time at these events, when do you work?”  Pictures with the President are Learn more...

Biology Class Frogs

Like most of us, I took biology in high school and we dissected a frog.  My lab partner and I got our frog, pithed it (the pin to the brain) like our teacher showed us and set about cutting her open (we found eggs).  Because we were going to work on her more the next day we put her in the refrigerator, pinned to the tray.  The next day, much to our horror, her heart still had a faint beat.   We hadn’t killed her with the pithing (apparently it only scrambles the brain).  We ran to the teacher who put Ms. Frog out of her misery.  That was the beginning of the end of my becoming a veterinarian.  Why do I tell that story?  It’s tragic about the frog, but amusing to me now in hindsight – almost as funny as lighting my hair on fire in chemistry class. The Learn more...

Stake a Claim

Now – and only now – that you have identified industries, sectors, companies and roles (with titles and a clear determination that the function suits your background) can you prepare your résumés.  I am heartily in favor of having more than one résumé.  If you are looking for a sales job in the telecom industry, you will emphasize experiences and reference knowledge and exposure in that industry.  Similarly, if you also want to pursue sales management positions in a consumer packaged goods company, you will emphasize different aspects of your background.  You should integrate words and phrases used in the position specifications you researched to describe some of the responsibilities you have had and activities you have performed. Note that no one is asking you to try to be all things to all people. And certainly there is no fabrication or fudging on what you’ve actually done. Again, it might Learn more...

Zero in on the Bulls-Eye

Are you beginning to see the bull’s-eye?  Identifying the industries is the outer ring of the target, identifying the companies is an inner ring and the bull’s-eye is the job title or function itself.  Now you must start naming the roles that you seek.  Research titles that you would be suitable for at the companies on your lists.  Ideally, review position specifications for similar (if not exact roles) on-line and be honest when assessing your skills and experiences against what your target companies are seeking.   I realize this might feel constraining, but you have to give people something concrete to hold on to.  It doesn’t mean you are necessarily locked in; you can be considered for other related roles.  Meanwhile, you will have done the self-analysis to know what you are qualified for and are therefore much more compelling when explaining your skills and experiences to an interviewer.  This Learn more...

Dream Big!

For each industry or industry segment (e.g., television segment within media industry, or insurance segment within financial services industry), pick 10-20 companies that you would want to work for.  Again, be thoughtful and consider location, size, reputation, etc.  This is a wish list, so dream big.  Right now we don’t even care if these companies are hiring. Do lots of research and have fun with it; there are likely smaller, lesser known companies that have great reputations and growth potential.  You will continue to refine this list throughout your job search and/or career planning.  Once again, dream big!

Pick 3

Now that you can see clearly, you can begin to chart your course.  Whether you are starting out after school, seeking to transition or regrouping after a layoff, start by selecting industries you want to work in.  Pick no more than 3 industries and have a rationale as to why they appeal to you.  Don’t just fall back on where your experience or expertise might be; make a conscious choice based on facts about yourself – your training, your passion and level of commitment.  Then factor in the global economy, environmental considerations, geography, etc.  Do your homework and commit – at least for now – to your “Pick 3”.  The foundation is now laid for the next phase – stay tuned.

Take the Blinders Off!

Just as you must take an eye exam periodically to identify changes in your vision, you need to do your own reassessment of yourself.  To bring your true self into focus, you must remove the blinders that block your peripheral vision and get a full 360° perspective of yourself.  You don’t have to do this alone; consult friends, family and colleagues and take their feedback to heart.  Review old performance appraisals and 360° feedback reports from your employer to tease out patterns or blind spots you might not have previously paid attention to.  Time to take the blinders off!