WHAT TO EXPECT

"To be nobody-but-yourself---in a world which is doing its best, night and day, to make you everybody else--- means to fight the hardest battle which any human being can fight; and never stop fighting."- e.e. cummings
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This space affectionately called CAREERS will loosely follow a four part program called Good Work If You Can Get It!, based on an upcoming book by yours truly to help you achieve the job of your dreams. Normally it's a three to four month journey, we'll weave in and out of that schedule somewhat, but if you want to follow along over the coming months you will have plenty of chances to don new information and ideas--about yourself, your labor market, and your job search. Or you can just stop in when the topic interests you. You can do either leisurely and in any order you wish--there is no right or wrong approach and flexibility is an asset here.
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If you are confused or discouraged about your career, or lack of it, you'll quickly find you are not alone. Please allow me to start at the beginning:
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Who Needs Career Help?
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Who doesn’t? Eight in ten work-aged Americans report that they are somewhat to moderately unhappy in general. Fifty percent of workers say they fall somewhere between dissatisfied and miserable with the job that they do. Most heart attacks occur on Monday mornings. There’s not much more to say.
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I’m a career counselor. That means that I work with people who for some reason need to decide or re-decide what to do about work.
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I work with all kinds of people—from company presidents to attorneys to teachers and marketing reps, to graphic designers to woodworkers and assemblers.
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When I meet a new client I say, “I’m the counselor everybody should have had in high school and nobody did”.
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That almost always brings a knowing smile, because most adults of all ages know that throughout time there has been too little assistance in the way of vocational advice and career guidance.
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People find their way to me or to someone like me for one or more of several common reasons:

· They have been laid off or are just out of school, have not had a job offer, or worse yet, aren’t sure what they should be looking for,

· They have already achieved career or financial success but have a strong desire to do “something that matters”,

· They have been depressed or otherwise stuck and a family member or someone else has pushed them to do something about it,

· They are being “outsourced” or encouraged to change jobs--which is a polite way that many employers say, “Take a hike”,

· They have been unable to work, or had an interruption in work, because of a physical or emotional reason.

The average person is not likely to find me or receive much help in any of these areas unless they are, in a sense, either very desperate or very lost. If you’re a department manager wanting to design playgrounds or an Insurance Specialist longing to be a jeweler, you’re generally out of luck.
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Sometimes it’s not the job but the circumstance. If you hope to stay in the same field but have a supervisor from hell, or you have lost your confidence that the work can be good again, it’s hard to know where to turn. Schools try, and there are some excellent training programs, but usually the time when you really need the help is when you’re out of school, not in it.
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I am describing different kinds of people who need career help to make the point that, by and large, even though work takes up almost half of your waking life, most people muddle through their jobs and careers on their own, and often on automatic pilot, entering law because their father did or staying in food service because its was their first job in high school, or choosing an occupation or accepting a job simply because it was offered.
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Most Career Resources don’t work either. First of all, they're not commonly available. If you check out your local bookstore or library, you will find several dozen good books and resources to help you write an effective resume, complete an impressive job interview, or organize a comprehensive job search. But the problem with this focus is that most people end up looking for work before they know what kind of work they can and should do. Better to know what your mind and heart are looking for before you start searching for it.
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There are many books and resources that ask the right questions about your mission in life, likes and dislikes, your values and visions. But too often you will encounter difficulty in applying your core values to the demands of the real labor market. I am always saddened when I encounter someone who has been “holding out” for the perfect job for months or years. In the meantime, his/her self esteem, confidence, energy and motivation have withered so significantly that it is near impossible to make a good impression or make the necessary adjustments. Good work doesn’t mean perfect work. Career joy doesn’t mean total satisfaction. But neither means long term misery or hopelessness either.
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Let's face it: mMost of us have never been taught, guided, or exposed to the process and skills needed to make one of most important decisions in life. You probably have more experience in buying a new car or computer than you do in choosing and finding good work.
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So here's what to expect here. First, you'll look at YOU: your hopes, fears, challenges, goals, preferences, skills, dreams, aptitudes and interests. You'll be introduced to the Good Work Circle, an interactive tool that will help you learn about yourself, the labor market and, finally, kick off and successfully complete your job search.
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From time to time I will also address career questions you may have. Not to mention you will no doubt find some terrific comments from terrific visitors that will get you both thinking and moving ahead.
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That's what to expect ahead. I hope you find what you're looking for. And I hope in the process we'll learn and laugh our way to the finish line!