choosing a career – Career Ideas

January 12, 2010

A Third Way-Beyond All or Nothing Career Solutions

If you are unhappy, then you are, unfortunately, not alone. Only 45% of Americans are satisfied with their work. That was the lowest level recorded by the Conference Board research group in more than 22 years of studying the issue.

While income and health benefits were major factors in this, a key finding was that only 51% now find their jobs interesting — another low in the survey’s 22 years. In 1987, nearly 70% said they were interested in their work. The researchers noted that lack of interest leads to lack of innovation, which further hurts the US economy. Unhappiness at work in other studies has been connected with health issues.

When I read these kinds of statistics, I always wonder why.

Why are so many people staying in jobs that don’t satisfy or interest them? Of course, I realize, especially now, the answer may be financial. But my experience with clients tells me that this rarely if ever excludes starting to plan and take action toward long term (or short term) change.

One reason people get stuck and don’t change is that they get caught in a negative cycle with all-or-nothing thinking. Either I stay in a lousy job that I don’t like but get some financial security or I go broke looking for something wonderful that may not happen. That may seem a bit extreme, but I would suggest if you don’t like your work, then you look at your own thinking and see if it doesn’t boil down to this kind of belief.

If so, take an alternative approach. Use your current situation as a stable base to start planning and taking actions to move toward your dream job and career. You don’t have to immediately quit your current job or job search in most cases. Figure out what you’d love to do and either start applying for those kinds of jobs now or taking other actions to make that possible (volunteer in related activities, take classes, etc.)

In other words, don’t make yourself stuck between a rock and a hard place. There are places between staying where you are and ditching it for a completely risky unknown future. But you ‘ll never find out what those places are, let alone how close you can get to that exciting but risky future if you keep thinking how unsatisfied you are while assuming it’s too risky to change.

September 8, 2009September 8, 2009

10 Tips for Getting the Most Out of Your College Internship

Note from Leonard: From time to time, experts with something great to say ask if they can be included on this blog. When their information will complement and add to the ongoing discussion here, I am excited to present them. Today’s post is from Rose Jensen about how college students can truly benefit from an internship. Rose offers a great list of specific tips. These are mostly pretty simple to do yet can yield a lot of information and future benefit (plus make your internship more engaging and fun).

As a college student, one of the most valuable ways you can prepare for your career is to get an internship. Even if your internship doesn’t lead to the exact career path you end up choosing, you’ll gain hands-on professional experience, make contacts in the industry, learn a new set of marketable skills, and prove your reliability and commitment. Internships are also great ways to explore a field and determine whether or not you’d like to continue in that industry after graduation. But before you get too complacent just because you’ve been selected for an internship, check out these 10 tips for making sure you make the most out of your experience.

1. Show up on time. Being punctual gets you huge points in the dependability department, and if you’re always available whenever your boss needs you, you can expect a great recommendation letter when you leave.

2. Get to know everyone in the office. You might feel intimidated at first, but make a point to chat a little with each person in the office as a way of learning more about the industry and building up your contacts.

3. Ask questions. Internships are learning experiences, so the more questions you ask about the industry in general and your specific to-do list, can only help.

4. Set goals. Determine what you want to get out of the internship and set goals for achieving it. With a more focused outlook, you’ll be more efficient at achieving your goals.

5. Be positive. Don’t kid yourself: interns often have to schlep papers, get coffee and do a lot of filing. Just be grateful that you’ve got something to add to your resume and an inside look at the job you may one day have.

6. Take on more tasks. Even if it isn’t offered, don’t be afraid to take on greater responsibility and help out more in general if you can handle it. You’ll meet more people and demonstrate your capability.

7. Send a thank you note. After your last day, send thank you notes to everyone you worked with in the office. It’s not always necessary, but going beyond what’s expected will ensure you leave on a positive note.

8. Attend special events. Offer to help out at special events to increase your exposure and networking opportunities.

9. Be professional. Even though everyone recognizes you’re still the college kid, acting professionally and as if you could fit into the office culture will help your chances of getting a job after you graduate.

10. Ask for an exit interview. Spend a few minutes with your manager to go over your demonstrated strengths and weaknesses. This meeting will also help you figure out what to include on your resume.

Today’s guest blogger is Rose Jensen. Rose writes about the best online universities. She welcomes your feedback at Rose.Jensen28@ yahoo.com

May 14, 2009November 13, 2009

Need a Career Change?

It may seem like a no-brainer, but I’ve seen it many times–people who are certain they hate their career, everything about the line of work they are in. They come to class or to coaching looking for a new passionate career. And then find out their passion leads them to the same career.

I’ve seen people ranging from nurses to construction workers start fighting their own conclusions as they realize that what they really want to do is exactly what they’ve been doing. After all, they know they are unhappy at work. What’s going on?

Usually, it’s because they are stressed over a bad boss or being overworked or not challenged in new ways. The career is fine, the particular job or work enviornment is not.

So how can you distinguish between needing a new career or a new job? Here are 3 quick, basic questions that can help.

1. When you think of staying in your current job, but in ideal circumstance in terms of bosses and pay and appreciation (the work environment and culture), how do you feel on a scale of 1—10?

2. What are the 3 best things about your current job?

3. What’s the 3 worst things about your current job?

Review your results and

1. If your ideal version of your current job is less than a 7, then your career and not just the job may be the problem.

2. If the best thing about your current job has nothing to do with the actual work and results but with things like “the coffee breaks” or “the person in the next cubicle” or “the benefits”

3. AND if the worst things are all about what you actually are supposed to be spending your time doing, then your career may be the deeper problem.

By contrast, if your ideal version of the current job is 8, 9, or 10, the best thing about the job are job activities themselves, and the worst things are all about how your boss treats you or the pay or hours—then it’s probably not about your career. It’s about your current work environment, so don’t rush off into another field, at least not until you first try to do something about your environment. If that fails, look to another job, but not another career.

A career coach can help with career or job issues, but whether you work on your own to figure this out or with a coach, you need to identify the specific, ongoing things that are making you feel like you need to leave—your job or your career.

–Career changers, jobseekers–Be sure to sign up for free career and creativity ezine and get your career info bonus

March 31, 2009November 13, 2009

Choosing a New Career–How Big a Career Change Do You Want?

Henry Ford is often quoted as having said, “If I had asked my customers what they wanted, they’d have said a faster horse!,” indicating that customers only know about incremental, not breakthrough solutions.

Both kinds of solutions are actually valuable--the question is which degree of change do you need when seeking a solution. Both kinds of change are relevant in terms of careers as well. The question is, what kind of career change are you looking for? How big? Incremental or breakthrough? A next step or a shift in directions?

When choosing a career some people think they want something new but really would be very happy to take a slight step sideways. They may think they need to make a big change, when a small one might be enough.

For instance, a clinic nurse might want to switch to a hospital setting — a small, incremental career change (some might say merely a job change). Or the nurse might seek management responsibilities for nursing staff in a hospital department. That would be a much bigger change still within nursing, and not as radical as, for example, switching to becoming a high school math teacher or opening a bakery or going back to school to become a computer programmer.

I bring this up because in my career classes, there are often people who tell me they are so angry with their careers, their jobs, their bosses or so burnt out, stressed, or so unchallenged that they need a new career. All of these are certainly signs something needs to change. But sometimes in the course of going through my program, they realize that the change they need does not have to be as radical as they had imagined.

So how can you tell which kind of change or solution is right for your career?

One quick way is to ask yourself: What’s actually making you unhappy about your current position?

If it’s your boss or your pay or not being appreciated or not learning anything new — then you most likely just need a change of job or need to make changes in your current job, but not a new career.

If on the other hand, what you are unhappy about is that your career isn’t allowing you to use your artiistic abilities or requires you to work alone on a computer all day–then a more radical solution is needed, perhaps a new career.

On the other side of that coin, you can ask what would make you really happy?

You can also look at your career or lifework mission statement if you have one and see if that needs changing. If so, that might indicate a breakthrough is needed. If that statement is still great, but you hate your work life, it’s more about the particulars of your job.

–Career changers, jobseekers–Be sure to sign up for free career and creativity ezine and bonus

Career coaching help also available — just email me for info.

February 14, 2009February 20, 2009

Hold True to Your Career Ideas–Beyond the Fear of Rejection

A Newsweek article recently reported on research showing how powerful rejection by a group can be. A mere 15 minute exercise leading to complete strangers apparently not including some people in a group led people to become more aggressive, less social, more likely to misinterpret neutral statements as negative, and have less self control (with chocolate chip cookies–hard to blame them).

This, the researchers say, is due to the evolutionary value of staying in groups and rewarding those who can stay together.

I guess I didn’t find these results terribly surprising. We all know firsthand how painful such rejection can be, in our personal or professional lives. The question is whether or not we’ve learned to move on and keep up our confidence in spite of this tendency.

But when it comes to careers, it’s vital we don’t just go with the group. Groups are essential to all we do—we can’t succeed alone—but we also need to beat our evolutionary tendencies. We need to find out what will bring out our best, what will engage our passions, what will be meaningful and rewarding to us, what satisfies our sense of values and vision.

Here are a few things I see people do all the time that stops them or sets them on the wrong course due to fear of group rejection. These activities are fine to do, but you need to be aware that you might run the risk of triggering off a desire to conform and a fear of rejection that can get you off track.

1. Asking friends or family what is the best career for you.

That can be useful If your family and friends offer new career ideas or identify passions of yours you are ignoring in your planning. Do ask for help, but in most cases, make sure it’s primarily about brainstorming or networking or for support.

Too often, though I hear how friends and family are saying what they think someone else should do. For some people, that’s fine. It’s just more useful information. But in line with the studies and common experience, it’s clear we’ll tend to want to go along with our families and friends, at least losing some judgment.

2. Asking people online for career help in forums.

This might seem a lot safer since you don’t have to turn to your spouse or mother and say, no I’m going in the opposite direction you suggested. But it still can trigger off some irrational feelings of going against the group, especially if a number of people all offer the same answer, and no one disagrees. Studies show it’s much easier to go against a group if even one other person is doing so too, but when you’re the only one, it’s very tough. .

3. Not applying for positions. That can be a fear of failure or a fear of rejection because you think it so unlikely you’ll be accepted at a company or in an industry–even though this is what you’d love to do and think you could do well.

So often in coaching I see people simply toss out of hand the idea of approaching someone or switching to a particular career because they assume they will get rejected. They’ll have excuses about how it’s unrealistic or they don’t know quite how to do it, but when we examine it, they find that fear is behind it, often fear of rejection and failure.

To overcome this tendency to conform, remember:

Let your passions and energy motivate you more than external opinions.
Don’t avoid groups, but ask for the support you really want or need from groups
Keep the big picture in mind about finding or achieving your lifework and how that’s more important than a momentary fear
Simply being aware of the potential problem can give you some distance from it so you can take your time and not make hasty decisions or statements.

See related post on understanding failure

Remember to sign up for my free creative problem solving and career ideas ezine for more articles and special offers. You can also email me with your questions about career change here

February 2, 2009February 2, 2009

Superbowl Career Ad–Emotional Truths, But Don’t Just React to the Negative

I confess I didn’t watch most of the Superbowl ads. I did see the end of the game and all of the Boss of course. But I did look later for the career ads just to keep up my career coaching cred in some weird way.

The careerbuilder ad made me laugh with its clever repetitions and images. But with my coaching hat on, I also saw that it was containing some basic emotional truths about career or job change. The ad showed a woman screaming in her car when she arrives at work, bosses showing no respect, people crying and punching toy koala bears. Actually, doesn’t sound too funny when you just write it down. But it’s through the humor that we can get to the tougher emotional truths sometime.

Most of us do wait until we feel incredibly angry, sad, frustrated, disgusted or dissed before doing anything about our jobs. Studies show we are more likely to act in response to getting rid of pain that going for pleasure, getting rid of unhappiness than going for happiness. That can keep us in so-so positions, which eventually will also drag us down emotionally. It just takes longer, like water dripping until it finally makes a hole in the stone.

I Twittered about this today, how the ad showed some basic situations and feelings that revealed underlying emotional truths we need to notice and deal with. A colleague, Shaun Jamison, replied that the problem is we often then jump from the frying pan to the fire. I agree. In trying to end our pain we might take rash action, having probably waited to

It’s not that the pain we’re feeling isn’t a good indicator about what to do. It’s just incomplete. What’s missing in part is our careful thinking about what else we can do, what jobs are better fits–but what’s also missing are the happy emotions.

The happy emotions of joy, peace, contentment, excitement can guide us to envisioning a job we’d really like. In my coaching, I always start out finding out what really gets people energized, passionate, excited. Doesn’t matter if it’s nonwork stuff. First get to that connection with your energy and passion and desire, and we can then use our thinking to figure out how to apply those passions into a better career and job.

And yeh, it doesn’t hurt to be able to laugh at our problems sometimes too, as with the ad.

January 21, 2009February 13, 2009

Career Coaching–It’s All About the Questions (mostly)

This week I spoke with a few people about coaching and how problems get solved in career coaching. People asked how I work or what I would do as a coach if faced with this situation or that. One wanted to know in detail about my processes.

It’s always great when people have these questions because it forces me to get clear again for myself as well as them about the process of coaching. It’s also a great chance to overcome misconceptions people can so easily have about career coaching, if they’ve never experienced it.

The people I spoke with this week all got it that coaching isn’t therapy of any sort and knew that it was a tool to help people help themselves get out of ruts, get a vision, make a plan, do the plan. What I did find myself talking about was how a lot of coaching isn’t me answering questions (though some of it is) but asking them.

After all it’s only by questions that the coach can even know what’s going on for the person in terms of their passions and interests and challengs and difficulties. It’s also a way to help clients look at things from different perspectives. My favorite is when someone says something like,

“I like construction except not full time so I’m thinking about some carpentry work which is pretty good. Of course I’d love to have my own catering business, but that’s not going to happen so maybe what I need to do is…

And I just back them up and ask, “Why isn’t that going to happen?” In other words, I start uncovering the reasoning and feelings and assumptions that led to that resigned conclusion about something they’ve identified as a prime passion. Usually, they have obstacles, but what they really love to do turns out to be very practical and possible.

Or sometimes it’s not–they aren’t going to play quarterback for the Packers at age 49 (unless their name is Favre and they keep making comebacks maybe), but I can ask more questions about what they love about catering, for instance, and find out that it’s about being involved with creating delightful things for people. We can then go through questions and discussions to figure out what that might mean besides catering.

It’s really quite fun and engaging for the clients as well as for me of course.

Of course, there’s a lot more to coaching than questions. It may include examples and models, can include advice, and in my case certainly includes many kinds of creative problem solving processes and activities.

But it’s imposible to do coaching without the question, and the bottom line question people are really asking me when they ask about coaching is this:

Can this really help me truly solve my career challenge? Or is this likely to lead me to my ideal lifework or career?

To answer yes, the coach has to have a very pragmatic orientation, even when talking first about career dreams, as I like to do. But it’s not possible for the coach to answer yes unless the client also says yes–meaning they have to be willing to commit to solving their problems, and to take the time to do the homework (I give lots of homework so clients move quickly on their own as much as possible). and be open to new ideas for their careers or job searches.

Check out a related career coaching post–I’m Smart, Competent–Why Would I Need a Career Life Coach?

January 2, 2009December 7, 2008

I’m Smart, Competent–Why Would I Need a Career Life Coach?

Here’s a very fast 3 question quiz to help answer that question:

Being smart and competent will certainly help you during coaching, but it doesn’t tell you whether or not you need a career life coach. That boils down to 3 questions:

1. Are you eager to go to work, usually feeling passionate and fulfilled in your job and career?

If you answered no, go on to number 2.

2. Do you know what new career/job you would like instead?

If no, think about coaching. If yes, that’s great, and now go on to 3.

3. Are you making progress toward you ideal career as fast and effectively as you’d like?

If no, think about coaching.

If you answered yes on 1 OR 2 AND yes on 3, you probably don’t need coaching.

December 20, 2008January 24, 2011

Which Career Is Best–Career Ideas for Artistic Student

I wasn’t happy with the other answers I saw to a career question on Yahoo this week, so I answered it. It was from someone apparently just starting to look for a career, someone with lots of artistic interests who didn’t want to be focused just on making money. Since it is the most foundational of all career questions, I thought I’d share my answer, slightly expanded, with anyone coming to this blog too.

Q: How do you know what career is best for you?

As a career coach (in Minnesota but working nationally), I often work with clients who are doing great financially but are just miserable in their careers. They light up when they start following their passions instead. So I can say that beyond the cliché, it’s generally true that following your passions WILL make you a lot happier than following only the money.

So what to do? For now, why not pursue all or many of the artistic passions you mention by taking classes if you are about to go to college (or are in college)? Now is your chance to experiment and learn about these arts and about yourself.

Keep your eyes open–notice what specific things you really love to do, not just dance, for ex., but what kind of dance you like and what role. Choreographer or performer? Part of a group, couple dancing, soloist?

Notice where you are willing to be persistent and not mind “failures” vs things you only like when they are going well. That will clarify which are more likely for day–to-day work and which are more appropriate for your hobbies. I think keeping a log about what you like is great too as you’ll start noticing patterns that will help you decide on a major.

Get help from others while in college or taking classes instead of being a passive student. Talk to teachers, other students, and people in these arts for a living (informational interviews) to see what careers look like from the inside. That way it will be easier for you to decide.

In other words, do follow your passions, noticing what really suits you and isn’t just this month’s whim.

December 11, 2008December 11, 2008

How to Choose A Career–Tips from the MBA Application Process

Here’s a career idea that can be another aid in helping you choose a career, even though it is intended for a more narrow purpose (where it’s also useful).

Yesterday, I posted links to a Wall Street Journal study about the finanical value (or lack of it) for an MBA. Here’s what I think is a very cool follow up. It’s from the University of Virginia B school, but here’s the thing. What she’s saying on this video is is ALSO relevant to ANYONE thinking about career choices in general–not just about MBA programs.

For instance, she talks about asking people who know you when they’ve noticed that you were most excited or most frustrated in the past few months. She suggests that applicants use this as a way of writing a good MBA application essay (and not bore the heck out of the readers).

But don’t be fooled. You can also mine this information to help you find what you have real passion for doing and what is challenging and what is just not your cup of tea.

Others can’t tell you what you should be doing. Tests can’t tell you. Even career coaches, all knowing as we (think we) are, certainly can’t. However, people who know you CAN give you concrete examples of what they’ve seen that can help you get clearer about what kinds of things you consistently love. It’s up to you (with the further support of friends, family, and possibly career coaches) to see how to tap into those situations to decide what kinds of careers match those situations.

In other words, you are a detective and these are clues about your happiness. Sure, the exact thing that you were passionate about may not be the career you will choose (say teaching your girlfriend how to ski). But it may well give you info about how much people interaction you want, how much you want something where learning or teaching is important, etc.

So watch the video and see if her essay suggestions spark some good thinking on your part or that of your friends and relatives.

If you want me, your friendly career coach, to write more about how to use your passions to determine your career, post a comment or send me an email.

If you want some info about career coaching, also send me an email or check out my business site

So here is the YouTube video from Sara Neher, Darden’s Director of MBA Admissions (University of Virginia)

December 10, 2008

Getting Ahead–Are MBA’s Worth It?

As a career coach, I help clients figure out their career vision and dream career(s). I often wind up reminding them that potential income is only part of that vision, and not the first factor to consider unless you don’t care how you actually will spend thousands of hours of your life. That’s not to discount the money, if you will, but to make sure you don’t get misled by that factor alone.

But those of you who have a career all set may be considering how to move ahead or simply how to earn more money. Many in management figure an MBA is the next step. But is it? In terms of raw dollars spent in obtaining it vs. dollars earned because of it, will it help or hinder you? The Wall Street Journal just took a look at this question to see what your ROI (return on investment) would be from ponying up for an MBA at 27 US schools.

They found out first, that it will cost you anywhere from $40,000 to $136,000 to complete your program. No small piece of change no matter which school you chose. The WSJ question is, whether the return after 5 years more than equals the cost. This is not about quality of the degree, but quantity of the return.

It turns out that the best ROI was at Texas A&M (243%) and the worst at NYU (only 56%). You can find the complete table here and the article discussing it here.

December 4, 2008December 5, 2008

Art as a Career–Lessons from the Internet

Art and economic/business success CAN go hand in hand. That career idea is being proven thanks to a new generation of internet and business savvy artists. A NY Times article,Transforming Art Into a More Lucrative Career Choice, presents a number of entrepreneur artists using the internet to extend the reach of their art or artistic business, choosing a career in art without the usual financial struggle.

One way is through multiple income streams–the same idea promoted some might say ad nauseum by informercials and every internet marketing guru I’ve ever read (confession–I’ve read quite a few). The article cites the case of Claudine Helmuth. “She has an online store… does custom illustrations for customers using photographs they provide. She licenses her artwork for greeting cards, calendars and other products. She has written two books about her techniques and has a third one coming out. She tours the country teaching both business and art workshops.” She also manufactures her own line of art products.

I don’t know about you, but Claudine makes me tired just hearing everything she’s doing, but it certainly shows all the directions you can go into if you don’t limit yourself to a simple model of what a career is.

Often, I have career coaching clients who say they want to be a landscape architect or a sculptor or further afield from art–a travel agent creating educational trips to little known areas or a caterer for world foods–and they think it’s just not financially feasible. They may be right–if they limit themselves to doing their work in the way they’ve imagined it or always seen it done. But they may be wrong if they can harness the powers of the internet. As with Claudine, that can mean, selling to a wider market or just getting know to a larger group that might publicize whatever you are doing thorough social networking, or having your art up and available instantly 24/7 in a virtual gallery publicized by all your friends and colleagues.

It’s not just about the internet as invaluable as that can be. It’s about looking at new ways to combine passions into activities you love that someone else will be interested in or need enough to pay you for your services and products. Whatever you want to do, don’t get stopped just because the conventional way of doing it doesn’t seem financially viable. You may need “multiple streams,” and you may need partners, but you can often find a path to your career vision.