Retirement Careers: A Controversial View

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Some time ago, Wall Street Journal featured a long article about starting a business at retirement age. The article took a cautious tone. Don’t gamble all your life savings on a business. You won’t have time to recover from a massive failure (as you would at 20 or 30). And so on. But as the article itself pointed out, sometimes you don’t have much choice. When we turn sixty, fifty, or even forty-five, the job market begins to fade. Career articles try to convince us we’ll just love working in a bookstore, serving burgers or working long hours at a “part-time” job with no benefits and no path to promotion. Our number one goal, they would have us believe, is flexibility so we can go see the grandchildren whenever we want. Now it’s fine with me if you have grandchildren and love volunteer work. But if you don’t fit the mold, you’re probably on your own. When I was feeling restless while living in New Mexico, a well-meaning neighbor suggested, “Why not become a Pink Lady at the hospital.” Since my relationship to hospitals can be summarized as, “They’ll have to carry me in feet first,” I realized it was time to get serious about growing my business. Here’s what I tell my own career-changing clients. (1) Plan early for self-employment. You have a window of opportunity from age 40 to age 50. Use that time to get credentials, move as high as you can in your professional field and grow your financial net worth. From 50 to 60, plan what you’ll do for retirement – your post-career career. You may want to spend thirty years with golf and fishing. You may choose employment rather than self-employment – and you may get lucky with a career you love. But I recommend creating a Plan B just in case you get frustrated, bored and/or restless. (2) Rehearse for the Real Show. While you’re still working, begin a self-employment sideline in a playful, “no big deal” spirit. And while you’re earning a good salary and stashing your cash, now’s the time to find mentors and hire resources. Take classes. Read books. Conduct informational interviews. Explore. In my experience, choosing the right resources (and losing the losers) is what creates success. (3) Count on the long haul. I’m no medical expert, but I keep reading, “Fifty is the new 30. Sixty is the new 40.” Since I joined a weight training class at my local gym, those claims seem even more plausible. Twenty or thirty years is a long time to set your brain on cruise control. When I talk to retirees, many seem bored, although they make fervent denials. I vividly remember a former neighbor who claimed to be enjoying a comfortable retirement, living in his dream house with a view of the mountains. But he kept asking everyone about their lives (“What was the plumber’s truck doing outside your house? ”) and offering free advice on everything from finances to fertilizers. After awhile, we’d run when we saw him coming. Another former neighbor became a recreational shopper. She had been a business dynamo and now her energies turned to retail. Her large home filled with souvenirs, books, clothes and memorabilia. Me? I'd rather be working. You may reprint this article in electronic media if you make no changes, use the following resource box and inform me of use. Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., coaches midcareer professionals who want to transform career breakdowns to career breakthroughs. Learn why most career change doesn't happen and how to make yours a reality. http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html

[Career Strategy] Get ready to wear your next hat

Q. My last 2 jobs I wore a lot of different hats. Now I want to go to a new city and find a new job. How do I present my varied experience? A. First and foremost, be straightforward. List your jobs chronologically. Don’t be tempted by the siren call of the functional resume. But there’s more than one way to present your accomplishments professionally. You’ll need multiple resumes, interview preps and elevator speeches – one for each hat that you’re hoping to wear in your next job. (1) Write at least 5 success stories for every job you’ve held since entry level. If you’ve held one job for a long time, write at least 1 or 2 stories for every 2 years on the job. An ideal success story has 3 parts: a problem, how you worked with others to address the problem, and the quantifiable outcome. Example: “Customers complained their orders were late. I headed a team that analyzed the problem. We talked to distribution, manufacturing, and sales. We interviewed customers. We recommended a streamlined ordering system that reduced complaints from 400 in 2005 to 22 in 2006.” (2) Identify the hats you would wear if you get each job. As you apply for jobs, you’ll discover what each employer finds important. If you’ve handled both marketing and customer service, for instance, you may find yourself responding to both marketing jobs and customer service jobs. (3) Rewrite your stories to focus on the new hat. The “late order” story can be written with a customer service slant, emphasizing improved customer relations, measures of customer satisfaction and systems. But if you’re applying for a marketing job, you would frame your story in terms of your company’s strategy. You might write about identifying a time-sensitive customer segment and meeting the needs of that segment. And a human resource professional might talk about hiring temporary workers for the task force, revising pay grades and job descriptions for the revised system, and developing training systems. (4) Transfer your stories to your resume and interview notes. Your stories become the raw material for your career marketing program – what I call “claiming your bragging rights.” So make your drafts really long and include lots of details. Of course you’ll revise your stories for your resume. And when you’re asked a question during an interview, respond with a story. Example: “What was your toughest management challenge?” You would respond with a story of how you pulled a team together to solve a marketing problem. If you’re interviewing for a customer service job you’d frame the challenge as marketing. (5) Create sound bites and elevator speeches from your stories. Interviewers are busy. Practice presenting your stories in 1-minute or 2-minute sound bites. If you catch their interest (usually a good sign!), you can always say more. If you’re applying for a corporate job, remember that interviewers want to know if you’ll be a strong, supportive coworker. Your story calls for an ensemble cast, not a one-act play. Finally, a lot of career change success depends on how well you click with the interviewer. If you seem like “a good fit,” your interviewer will nod appreciatively rather than get bogged down in the details of your knowledge. If you seem like a maverick or misfit (as I so often was), you’ll feel the chasm widen as the interview continues. You may use this article in your blog of ezine IF you (a) make no changes and (b) include this resource box: Cathy Goodwin, PhD, helps midcareer professionals transform career breakdowns to career breakthroughs. Download 7 secrets of successful midlife career change: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html Begin your 21-Day Extreme Career Makeover today. http://www.cathygoodwin.com/21days.html

[Career Advice] Moving Your Career "For the Family"

You’ve got a wonderful job, a nice place to live and lots of friends. But you realize you miss your family, who live five hundred miles away. Maybe you just retired and you want to be closer to your aging parents. Or you want to watch your grandchildren grow up. Or you want to get closer to siblings and old friends. Should you move? Here are some questions to help gain insight as you wrestle with a tough decision. (1) Are you moving from a sense of excitement and hope – or from a nagging feeling of obligation? Every so often, I get calls from clients who begin, “I moved to be near my beloved friends and family. And once I arrived, I realized they didn’t need me. In fact, they liked me better when we lived farther apart! How can I get my old career and my old life back?” (2) How will family dynamics change once you’re fifteen minutes away instead of 500 miles? Often you’ll grow closer together and find new sources of strength and inspiration. But sometimes a retiree becomes a taken-for-granted, round-the-clock baby-sitter. A busy self-employed professional is expected to participate in time-consuming family rituals. And more. (3) What’s your family like today – not one, five or ten years ago?. You move to spend time together. But do you know each other? Do you still have a lot in common? If you haven't been in the same city for awhile, expect surprises. Couch potatoes become fitness fanatics. Television addicts discover the public library and the bookstore. Even a change in movie preferences can affect the quality of a relationship. Eight years ago, I wasn’t interested in basketball or dogs. Needless to say, I get into some very interesting conversations with anyone I haven’t seen since 1998. (4) Will you enjoy your new city on your own? Even with a close family, you’ll need your own life. Will your new community support opportunities to grow and change? The best resource (in my biased view): http://www.cathygoodwin.com/bigmove.html (5) Can you find career satisfaction? About a third of my Power Hour calls focus on long-distance job search, with good reason. You have to walk a fine line between showing potential employers you’re motivated to move – and sounding so eager you’ll take whatever you can get. Typically I refer clients with complex family questions to a specialized professional. I urge everyone to understand the impact of career on family. No one wants to spend five years living with resentment because “I gave up a wonderful career for you.” A family counselor will help you sort through these issues. There's reason for optimism. With careful planning, my clients usually find creative ways to enjoy the family and also maintain a satisfying career. If you liked this article, you'll love my ezine: http://www.cathygoodwin.com/subscribe.html You're welcome to reprint this article in any format IF you notify me and include this resource box: Cathy Goodwin, PhD, helps midlife professionals who want to transform career breakdowns to career breakthroughs. http://www.cathygoodwin.com Begin your 21-day Extreme Career Makeover http://www.cathygoodwin.com/21days.html

More on the Real Deal of References

Several readers wrote following last week’s article, The Real Deal on References (see posting below for Saturday December 16). Nona Aguilar gave me permission to use her name along with a tip she received from an HR person. When you’re checking a reference, call when you’re pretty sure the reference will be away from his or her desk. Leave a voice mail. Those who are eager to give positive references will return the call. Those who dread giving a negative reference will delay or ignore your message altogether. And... Q: “I now have to ask colleagues for references – how do I do this?” A: Just ask. In some industries it’s so common that nobody will be surprised. You can say, “I’m applying for a job with X and they would like references from colleagues and peers as well as bosses. I’ve really enjoyed working with you and believe you know my work. Could I give your name?” Sometimes your colleague will say, “I’m not sure what to say about you.” In that case be ready to offer specific suggestions or even draft the entire reference letter. The challenge comes if you’re job-hunting in secret and you need references from present colleagues. In general, I believe companies should understand that you can’t give references from your current job till the very last minute. You may offer to bring in copies of performance appraisals, awards and other documents. Q. “I’m pretty sure my boss is giving me a bad reference – what can I do?” A: First, try to negotiate. Many bosses will be so glad to see you go, they’ll help you along the way! I once taught at a business school where everyone realized that we had made a big mistake when we hired a new dean. He was a real disaster. So the senior faculty gave him glowing references when he applied for a new job. Unfortunately, they had friends at other schools and didn’t want to cause hard feelings. The dean’s job hunt was a long one. At this point for you, it’s a matter of sizing up the boss’s hot buttons. Emphasize that you’ve learned a lot from her or you want to leave on good terms with him. Explain that you’ll benefit from the work experience and would like to move on to make a contribution elsewhere. Some bosses will not be reasonable. When you can’t change the reference, frame your presentation to prepare your next employer. Keep your comments short – 1 sentence, 2 at most. “Frankly, Mary and I never really clicked. She wanted more of a numbers type and I’m a creative guy.” Or “You’ll find I got along really well with my previous bosses and I still exchange Christmas cards with most of them. Hank was the only exception. He inherited me when he transferred to our division and he really needed to hire his own team.” Do you have evidence that anyone, anywhere, is making false statements about you? And are those statements causing harm? If so, make an appointment with a lawyer who specializes in employment cases. I am not a lawyer so I am not sure what is required. And some situations may be considered unique under the law. Only a lawyer can advise you on what constitutes illegal behavior and what evidence you need to take legal action. If you do get evidence of defamatory action, usually a letter from your attorney to the individual and/or the company will be enough. But these days a lot of serious reference action takes place behind closed doors on secure phone lines. If you like this posting, you'll love the Great Career Moves Ezine. And if you're going through a job search, check out my irreverent (and highly practical) job search guide. Download today and begin searching more effectively for your Great Escape job.

Storm in Seattle (or why I didn't answer your email)

Last Thursday we began to hear warnings, “Big storm predicted for Friday.” So Thursday afternoon I backed up my computer files, shut down the computer and stocked up on the basics. Crossing Queen Anne Avenue was like fording a small river. Overnight the wind was really loud and rain kept coming down. But we were lucky. The power flickered. I missed some emails. And by Friday morning, the streets were dry and the air was crisp and cool. Others were not so lucky. Most of my friends and neighbors with “real” jobs got Friday off. Schools were closed. Trees fell and demolished some homes. Our local newspaper plant lost power so we had no print news on Friday. And as I write this ezine, many homes in Seattle have been without power for days. At every gathering you hear people asking, “Do you have power yet?” My second winter in Seattle: very different from last year in every way.

[Career Change Strategy] The Real Deal on References

Q. I'm changing jobs. Before leaving my current position, should I get letters of reference? A. Probably not. In my experience, corporate employers rarely pay attention to "To Whom It May Concern" letters. They'll prefer phone calls that aren't recorded. When they need a letter, they'll have their own forms and they'll want letters sent directly to them. But before taking off, take time to set up your references for future calls. (1) Research the way your present boss normally handles references. Some well-meaning managers avoid giving anyone a glowing recommendation. "Nobody's that great," they'll say. "I want to be honest." But of course everybody else exaggerates and your reference's "honesty" comes across as concern. Other references are just clueless. My colleague "Nick" genuinely wanted me to get a great opportunity when he wrote a letter for me. But he added a line suggesting I might be "somewhat eccentric." Luckily an interview committee member asked me, "What on earth does he mean?" "We're friends," I said, truthfully, and reached for the phone. Nick was completely baffled ("I meant it as a compliment") but he agreed to revise his letters so I'd sound like a serious candidate in all respects. (2) Get permission to list references and be sure they're "live." Your boss may be required to refer all calls to Human Resources. Or she may be moving to a new career and you're part of the past she wants to forget. In my former life, students often asked if they could list me as a reference for jobs and graduate programs. But sometimes I'd get a surprise request from someone I barely remembered, creating awkward moments for all of us. (3) Watch for red flags. If your job prospects get derailed mysteriously, over and over again, consider hiring a resource to check your references. They'll call to say, "I'm checking references on Tim Toole." They won't pretend to be an employer; it's rarely necessary. One reference-checking consultant told me, "The manager who answered the phone said, 'Just a minute.' Then, without covering the mouthpiece, he yelled, 'What did the lawyers tell us to say about Tim?'" (4) Discover the common practices and unwritten rules of your own industry and field. University professors and administrators typically submit three letters of reference with each application. Often these references will be mailed directly to the hiring department but they're standardized and prepared ahead of time. By the time you've gained some seniority in your field, you're probably familiar with standard hiring prospects. But when you need to change careers, talk to some well-connected recruiters. Talk to managers who have actually done some hiring in recent months. (5) Be proactive. Let's face it: writing reference letters adds hassle to somebody's day, especially when your reference is not familiar with your target market. If appropriate, offer to follow up or draft a list of key points to emphasize in the letter. If you liked this article, you'll love my Irreverent Guide to Job Search: Download here and jump-start your career change today. Get articles like this one delivered to your inbox each week. Start here.

"Wanting and Having"

I can't remember where I heard this: "What do you want? Look at what you have." In some way we create what we have, unless of course we're living in a repressive regime or prisonlike place. Similarly a relationship coach told me, "When I meet a couple who say they're not happy, I say, 'So why are you still together? There m ust be something that's working for you.'" Change begins when the balance shifts. But first it's important to see what's working. Careers work this way too. "Why are you still in the same job?" You like what you have and believe it won't happen anywhere else. For weekly articles delivered to your inbox subscribe here.