By Ellen and Dana Borowka,
MA
Ever find yourself confused over
what career direction to take? Or how to successfully prepare
yourself for that career search? Whether one has been in a
career for many years or just beginning, these are not easy areas to
navigate through. It can be very difficult to find the career path that
is right for us. Sometimes we may find ourselves trying to
live up to someone else’s expectations rather than our own;
or we don’t know what we want in a career - what
will truly make us happy.
Starting
the Search
So, where does one start in a career search? First, if you
have recently been let go from a company - don’t panic, as
that will be picked up when applying for positions. Yet,
don’t deny the feelings of anger, hurt and fear
either. A good way to deal with these feelings is to talk to
a counselor, clergy person or friend, and journal out your
feelings. That will help to resolve the feelings so they
don’t get in the way of your career search. Next,
it may be best to take a week off and go away on a short, inexpensive
vacation. This may help to put things in perspective and calm
things down. Then assess your financial status &
needs, and create a budget. It’s also very
important to take care of yourself while looking for a new
position. Be sure to eat healthy, exercise, sleep and keep a
balance between the job search and play time.
Finding
Your Direction
Finding the right career is a process. The following are some
steps in finding your pathway. Here’s an exercise that you
might find helpful in making an action plan for your search.
a)
First, dream about three things you’d love to do in life.
What turns you on? What gets your blood going? Some
examples could be going to the moon, being a Broadway star or exploring
ancient ruins. Don’t put limits on your dreams - write them
all down. This will help you to discover what pathways you are
most interested in.
b) What
is it about these three ideas that really excites you?
Let’s use the example of going to the moon. It may be the
instruments in the Space Shuttle that really excites you. Focus
in on what is so interesting about your dreams.
c) What
is it about the (you fill in the blank) in your dreams that really
excites you? What is it about those Space Shuttle instruments
that is really interesting?
d)
Now, you get to research! So, go to the library, Internet,
college career placement centers or other resources to research the
companies associated with what you are excited about. With the Space
Shuttle example, you might research the manufacturers of the Space
Shuttle.
e) Then
contact a company representative in the department that interests you
the most. You may be interested in design, sales, marketing,
accounting, etc. so ask for that department when calling.
Emphasize that you are doing research when calling, as people seem to
be more helpful. You’ll gain information on
opportunities and job requirements in the company and the
industry. Also, ask what other companies or contacts would
be helpful in your research. This can give you possible referrals
and assist with networking. As part of your research, see
if you can visit the area where you want to work and talk to people who
are in your desired career field. This will help you decide if this is
the right career for you.
Sometimes,
we can be too close to the situation and need help to find our
way. When this is the case, be sure 
to
reach out for assistance from a counselor, clergy person and
friends. Support is very important during this difficult
process.
Researching
is the Key
Research is a very important part in any career search, whether it is
to find that perfect career or new position. Many people do
very little research or preparation in their search - a practice that
failed us in school and will fail us in our job search. How
many people do you know who obtained a graduate degree, only to
discover to their horror that they hate their new career? If
you want that great career or position - be sure you are ready in all
ways for it!
When I graduated from college, I didn’t know what I wanted to
do. So, I thought about what I liked and researched three
areas - business, computers and psychology. I gathered information on
different careers and companies in these three areas by looking in the
library’s reference section and contacting companies,
individuals and counselors. I asked about the job
requirements, pros and cons, and the daily routine of my desired
careers. At the time, I used this information to obtain a
business position in a corporation then later made a career change to
counseling. This process helped me to decide what pathway was
right for me at that time in my life.
Effective
Interviewing Tips
So, now that we have a direction to go in, how do we prepare for our
career search? Here are some interviewing tips to help you on
your way.
- I can’t say it enough
- Research! Be sure to research the company and position
fully before the interview. Know the salary range ahead of
time and how long the previous employee had been in the
position. Knowing how long employees have been in the
position will help key you in to any danger signs. It can
signal whether this opportunity is the door to heaven or hell.
- Self-image is very important in
interviewing. Make sure your suit or interviewing outfit is
in good shape and pressed. Keep appearances fairly
conservative like neat hair, no long fingernails and light on
perfume/cologne and jewelry. This advice may bother some, but
appearances are vital in interviewing. As you may know, an
interviewer usually makes a decision within the first 10 minutes after
meeting the interviewee. So, it’s important to put
your best foot forward.
- Successful resumes and cover
letters target the position. Go to the library or bookstore
to get ideas for effective resumes and cover letters. Keep
resumes and cover letters brief and to the point - one page
in length, and targeted to the desired position. Be sure to
cover all areas of job requirements from the job listing in the cover
letter. For example, if the listing calls for five years of
experience with gadgets then put that in the cover letter. Or
if you don’t have that experience then be sure to address it
with similar experience or skills. Also, different jobs call
for different resumes like a sales resume for a sales job or a
management resume for a management job. There is a different
emphasis for each job type. Plus, you always need an original
cover letter for each position. Don’t use form
letters, as they are too general and unfocused. After the
interview, always send a thank you note. It gives you the
edge over others who don’t.
It’s also important to have someone else proof your resume,
cover letters and thank you letters to watch for grammar and spelling
errors.
- Practice makes
perfect! Before the interview, practice with interview
questions. You can get sample questions from career books at
the library. If possible, practice with a friend - role-play
the whole interview from handshake to good-byes. You can even
videotape the interview to study how to improve your interviewing
style. Be prepared to discuss your strengths and weaknesses;
what you liked and disliked about your last position (in a positive
manner - don’t complain about supervisors); and why the
company should hire you. Keep your answers brief and to the
point, using workplace examples in a positive
manner. Be able to discuss difficult areas like
employment gaps or lack of experience. Remember that this is
the time to toot your own horn. If you don’t
believe in yourself, then it will be hard for an employer to believe in
you.
- Be prepared for that big
interview. Take an extra resume copy to interview and fill
out all forms completely. Confirm your interview before
going. Always ask one question about the company - something
you really want to know, but avoid asking about salary and benefits in
the first interview. Ask for business cards to send thank you
notes after the interview.
- You make the decision.
Look around the company environment to be sure you feel comfortable
there. The interview process is not a one way
procedure. You have to decide if this is the right place for
you. So, look at everything and everyone at the
company to help you make the right decision. Listen to your
intuition. If it feels wrong, then it’s probably
not the right place for you.
- Assess the interview for
self-improvement. What could you do differently?
Yet, don’t beat yourself up for nervous slip-ups.
We’re all human and we all make mistakes.
There’s
a Place for Everyone
Well, that’s the scoop on searching for the right
career. Finally, I want to leave you with a story to
ponder. A friend once told me about a young lady who was
trying to sell her car to pay her college tuition. She was
having little luck and tuition was due in a few days. She
drove her car into a gas station and began to cry in
frustration. The owner of the gas station came over to see
what was wrong and she told him her tale of woe. When she was
finished with her story, he made an interesting, if somewhat inspiring
reply. He said, “Honey, let me tell you
something. There’s an ass for every
seat!” Then he suggested she leave her car at the
gas station and he’d see what he could do. The next
day the car was sold and the young lady was able to pay her
tuition. The owner would not even take a commission for the
sale. When life seems dark and hopeless, this story can
remind us that everyone has a perfect place in life. So, no
matter how tough things may be, the right pathway is waiting for all of
us. The key is to maintain our vision.
If you would like additional information on this topic or others,
please contact your Human Resources department or Dana at Lighthouse
Consulting
Services LLC dana@lighthouseconsulting.com.
Permission
is needed from Lighthouse Consulting Services, LLC to
reproduce any portion provided in this article.
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