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Shary Raske |
Anticipate the Unexpected
May 2009 Two hours of Professional Career Advice for the Price of One! Call for details. Receptivity I was walking at Creve Couer Park and decided to stretch before the turn in the path. As I held onto a tree, I spotted a four-leaf clover just inches from my foot. Delighted, I wondered what were the odds of finding something so rare so easily? Then later in the week a friend shared at lunch a series of events that seemed to defy probability, too. Here is the story she shared with me: A few months ago in March, an employee walked out of the warehouse just as an Indian Ringneck Green Parrot landed in front of him. Cautiously, he got a cardboard box and captured it. My friend’s husband just happened to be a co-worker who knew about parrots. My friend just happened to be home, instead of working that day, and was available to bring the bird home where she determined he was quite hungry, but otherwise no worse for wear. How could that be? Parrots don’t do well in the cold. Within 24 hours of his capture, an early Spring snowstorm hit and surely the bird would have perished. Next they contacted several shelters in an attempt to find the owners. That didn't work. Then they tried Craigslist and the first listing they saw was Lost: Indian Ringneck Green Parrot. Sure enough, one in the same. This unexpected series of events saved this bird’s life. As a career transition strategist, I’ve seen this over and over that when professionals are receptive to the unexpected, they seem to generate more connections to satisfying work. Another observation: the professional who ignore the odds are more likely to make a positive change. What does it mean that a top executive will have fewer opportunities than line workers? What does it mean that college graduates are having a tough time finding work in 2009? There seems to be an underlining message that if the odds are bad, we should just give up. Are executives finding work satisfying work? Yes! Are college graduates finding work? Yes! It’s not that they are ignoring the odds, they're just staying at it until they get to where they want to be. Persistence and tenacity will help you, too. The success of finding a four-leaf clover took action to be in the clover. Notice the series of actions that were taken to reach a happy conclusion with a wayward bird. Both scenarios required participation, and so it is with a job search. Anticipate the unexpected; take action; do the best you can, and keep going! How Job Search Support Groups Could Lead You Astray Job Search Support Groups play a vital role in helping professionals get organized around their search. These groups also provide moral support and great tips around what is needed to find work. Three cautions to get the most out of a job search support group. First, keep in mind that these are volunteers; their opinions and advice may not be right for you. Recently, at an event, I overheard one job hunter tell another job hunter that the best introductory statement about themselves (sometimes called an elevator speech) should be at least two minutes long. She said it with such authority; but she was wrong. My coaching is to have three versions: one that is 17 seconds, one that is 30 seconds, and one that is 50 seconds depending on the situation. And then learn under what circumstances to you use which version. You want to say just enough to entice, but not too much to bore. Two minutes can seem like a lifetime to the wrong listener. There is an art and science to effective job search methodologies. My advice is to ask yourself, is the person giving the advice an authority? Is the advice appropriate for you? One size does not fit all. My second caution is to stay away from naysayers. Every Job Search Support Group has at least one person who actively tries to get you to be just as miserable as they are. Misery loves company. Don’t let others sap your most vital resources: your time and your energy and your optimism. Thirdly, don’t fall into the trap of believing that just attending Job Search Support Groups will be enough to get you where you want to be. If all you are doing is going to Job Search Support Groups and applying for jobs on-line, you are delaying finding meaningful work. News You Can Use One Secret for a Successful Career Transition Does your career need a CPR diagnostic session? I work with career changers who want to get to where they want to be faster and easier! If you are unhappy or stuck in your career, a Career Planning Readiness meeting will immediately identify ways to get back on track. Leave with a preliminary plan on how to fix your career situation. Available nationally through tell-coaching or one-on-one in the St. Louis region. Call today for details (314) 560-1088. Next Issue: Special thanks to Andrew for referring a great new client to me this month. If you know someone who is anticipating a career change, let them know about my services. Together we can wipe out ineffective career searches. Shary Raske, Career Strategist, We offer career transition coaching, designed to get smarter, more effective results. Enjoy reading, and please forward to others, particularly those who are job searching. If you received this in error, our apologies; see column on your left for options. |
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Shary Raske, Career Strategist, Smarter, more effective career change! Delivered by Webvalence |