[Great Career Tips] Email Writers and the Wall Street Journal

"Infamous Email Writers" headlined an article in today's Wall Street Journal (Tuesday, February 21, 2006, Marketplace Section, page B1). A young attorney named Dianna Abdala rejected a job offer by email. She wasn't very gracious as she reported the job would be neither "fulfilling" nor suppportive of her lifestyle. Abdala's potential boss, one Will Korman, expressed dismay. He had already ordered business cards for her. Ms. Abdala wasn't a bit repentant. As a lawyer, she declared, he should not have relied on an oral agreement. And while I'd never urge my readers to be rude, I have to give this round to Ms. Abdala. Suppose the tables were turned. Mr. Korman could have changed his mind for any reason - or for no reason. He could have called to say, "Sorry, no job." Or he might even have waited till Ms. Abdala showed up and then jumped up fron behind her desk, yelling, "Surprise!" She'd have a tough time proving the existence of an agreement. True, employers rarely default on oral agreements. But it happens. I once worked with a university colleague who learned the hard way. He accepted a job based on a verbal offer. He quit his job. A week later, the administrators called. It seems there was a little mistake about the salary. Could he take a ten percent cut before he even started? Needless to say, that man's career was nasty, brutish and short. So while I usually admire the WSJ and its writers, this time I say they've got the emphasis wrong. The point of the story isn't Ms. Abdala's ungracious email. It's her employer's unbusinesslike approach to human resources.

[Career change tips] Priorities vs. Focus

Consultants and coaches constantly urge us to, “Focus! Stay with one project at a time. Don’t get distracted.” Usually that’s good advice. But sometimes it makes sense to run on two tracks. And sometimes you have no choice. (1) Exploring a new career or business? During the exploration phase of a job search, I recommend keeping several irons in the fire. You might be considering careers in marketing or consulting – and wondering if you should return to school to become a lawyer or librarian. Following one trail to the end may take weeks, even months. If you arrive at a dead end, you’ll have nothing to show for your efforts. So make career search your priority and focus your efforts in this direction. But you’ll probably have to juggle two or three specific searches. (2) Natural multi-tasker? Some people need to jump back and forth between activities to keep from getting bored and restless. Often gifted and creative clients report this pattern. If you’re getting things done, you may have found your natural work style. But if you have half a dozen half-finished projects, you need to raise a red flag. Once again, think priorities. Are you spending most of your time on your most important projects? Or do you get distracted by non-essentials? For instance, if you’re just starting a new business, you may work on multiple projects, but all serve your main goal of getting yourself established in the market. (3) Job requirements? Some careers require multi-tasking. Within one week, a college professor might (a) teach an introductory overview course, (b) lead a graduate seminar on a narrow topic, (c) design a research experiment, (d) revise a paper for a journal, (e) give a talk to a community group and (f) participate in committees to recommend procedural changes. And they’re also advising students, planning next semester’s class and...well, you get the idea. Similarly, a lawyer may supervise interns, teach a class, appear in court, take a deposition and conduct research. If you thrive on variety and can keep a dozen balls in the air, you’ll love these careers. But if you need to focus on one project at a time, you may find yourself on the road to a new job. I know some professors who couldn’t teach an introductory course in the morning and then conduct serious research in the afternoon. They tended to leave the profession. Bottom Line: Choose a way to use your skills to support your preferred style. Look up every so often to see if your style is working – based on what you’re accomplishing, not on what “everyone else” is doing. This article comes from my ebook Your 21-Day Time Management Makeover Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., offers consulting and resources to midlife professionals who want to change careers, master corporate politics or take a break for school, sabbatical or self-employment. Click here for a list of services

Book Review: Career Comeback

Career Planning Book Review: Career Comeback by Bradley Richardson Order here. As a career consultant, I'm on the lookout for books to recommend to my clients. Career Comeback passes the test. One preliminary note: The cover refers to failed business ventures, but this topic does not appear to be covered. Publishers, not authors, usually write cover copy, so we can't fault Richardson. I believe you'd have to make major adaptations to these 8 steps if your business goes south. The most valuable information comes in the first half of the book: dealing with being fired. I agree with just about everything Richardson says. He's one of the few authors to recommend sitting down with a financial planner right after you talk to your family. His advice on dealing with an employer after being fired is very sound. And many will find the exercises useful: Review what went wrong -- in and out of your control. So mostly I like Steps 1-4 of Richardson's 8-step program. Step 5 ("Find out what matters to you") is a good start, but I think Richardson underestimates the degree to which we identify with our professions. "You're still the same person" strikes me as one of those irritating, useless bromides. Many of us will be branded as an "ex" for a long time and will have difficulty losing that identity, no matter how hard we try. And the experience of losing a career we love can change us in deep ways. "One role is temporarily diminished while another moves into its place..." won't help those who identify strongly with a profession. And your other roles will be affected by job loss. Friends view you differently. You may not be able to afford the activities you enjoyed with your friends and family. Some arts organizations actually encourage high-level volunteers to leave when they no longer hold jobs. Steps 6 and 7 - "Find your next move" and "Find your next job" -- are necessarily oversimplified because they're single chapters on topics deserving a whole book. "Go back to an old job" is possible but not likely, and you'll be in a one-down position. And downshifting to a smaller company probably won't hurt your career - but it might. I disagree most strongly with sections on testing. If you're unemployed and money is tight, skip the tests. At mid-career, they'll almost always show you're best qualified for the job you have. And most career tests are so unreliable they shouldn't be used for guidance. The section on hiring coaches and counselors needs to be expanded. Many "career coaches" have little experience with careers, except their own. Some offer expertise; others have "training" in asking questions and helping you "find the answers within you." And you have to decide if you agree with value systems like "law of attraction." The fee range quoted for coaches and counselors is low. I think you should expect to pay a minimum of $125 - $250 for a single session, which often includes follow-ups. I do know of some coaches and counselors who offer lower fees and frankly, you get what you pay for. Packages cost less and (as the author correctly says) are more helpful. And to choose a consultant, I recommend reviewing his or her website, brochures and other writing. Invest a few bucks in an e-book before signing up. Coaching organizations do not "verify skills." I once tried to report an "accredited" coach's unethical conduct. Both coaching school and ICF refused to get involved, let alone take the coach's name off their "recommended" lists. Step 8, "back on track," is quite good, especially sections on buyer's remorse and admitting you made a mistake. I would add that a return to work, following a long break or layoff, could be the perfect time to start working with a career coach. Learn from experience and make a good first start. I don't think we ever make a "complete comeback." We simply make progress. And, as I noted earlier, we're different. Despite these quibbles, I'd recommend this book to clients and website visitors who need to go from Setback to Comeback. You could do a lot worse. Order here. Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Get my free Report: "Why most career change fails (and how to write your own success story" Get your report here!" Get your 21-day Extreme Career Makeover How Job Search Really Works

[Great Career Tips] Just Moved and Miserable? 5 Strategies to Reconnect to Your Dream

You're ready to move: start a new business, change jobs, change locations. You made the decision. But three months later, you're wondering, "Did I make a big mistake?" We tell ourselves not to expect a "happy ever after" ending...but let's face it: that's what most of us want! So here are five tips to reconnect with your dream. 1. Review your reasons for moving, changing jobs and/or starting a business. Are you moving for “a lower cost of living” or “to be closer to family?” Clients who move for these reasons tend to call about a year after they make a change. They’re not enjoying their new lives, they say. They spend hundreds (or thousands) of dollars to escape on weekends and take long, long vacations. And often (though not always) families find they get along better with more miles between them. Clients who realize they’re following someone else’s dream tend to be the most frustrated. Maybe your mentor wanted you to follow her footsteps or your family always saw you as a business success. The happiest life-changers are guided by their own inner compass, even when the wind changes. 2. Give yourself time. Clients sometimes call to say, “I moved six months ago and I don’t know anybody!” Or, “I started my new business and still choke on the words, ‘self-employed.’” Researchers find most newcomers need at least two years to feel settled in a new home. Getting used to the “self-employed” identity can take three to five years. Before you move, and during the early stages, practice saying, “I am a...” Ideally, wait to move until you feel comfortable and proud. If you continue to choke on the words, maybe it’s time to reconsider your goal. Some people never get comfortable saying, “I am a writer,” or, “I live in New York.” Others just need more time. 3. Go slow when you’re new. This recommendation is probably most important to your success. You’ll be invited to join professional organizations, clubs and neighborhood groups. Say no! Go to meetings as a guest – at least five or more times. See if you feel comfortable after the first encounters. People are almost always friendly with strangers. You’re a novelty! But after a few meetings, you’ll be treated differently. You may find people warm up after awhile. Or conversely they may reveal they have different values and approaches to friendship. Once, right after moving to a new city, I joined a group that seemed professionally useful and also friendly. Later I learned that most meetings were held in a place that’s very difficult for me to reach. Because I missed so many meetings, my membership was a waste of time and money. One client volunteered at her new Humane Society. She had loved her work for a similar group in another city. To her dismay, the new group held very different values about adoption and “who would make a great dog owner.” She resigned after three months and felt awkward when she ran into members of the organization around town. 4. Make time for something meaningful. Go back to why you moved or changed careers. What were you hoping to achieve? Are you following your own promises? Let’s say you moved to a city because you wanted to be able to attend symphony concerts or football games. Are you following through? Or are you too busy to enjoy what brought you here in the first place? Or you changed careers to have more time with family. Are you working through dinner, although you no longer need to put in face time? Why make a change if you end up where you started – overworked and frustrated? 5. Have a confidante on call. Inevitably, you’ll have a Day of Frustration. Most likely you’ll find yourself in a place where you absolutely, positively need to keep quiet. You probably didn’t get much sleep the night before. You feel like sharing your feelings with whoever’s around. Get out your phone and dial a number you chose ahead of time: a trusted friend, a family member, even a consultant or coach. When you’re new, it’s important to project an image of “Everything is wonderful,” no matter what. After a few months (or years), you can begin to join the chorus of local feelings, like everybody else. Based on Cathy Goodwin's Guide to Relocation Making the Big Move and Your 21 Day Extreme Career Makeover More Reports to Download Contact Cathy Goodwin.