Afraid to Unplug, Let Go of Work & Relax? 4 Ways to Prepare Yourself and the Office for Your Vacation

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Cabana ViewWhat’s the purpose of a vacation if you can’t really get away? Not in the physical sense, of course. Each of us can drive off, board a plane and within hours be in another city, state or even halfway around the world.

I’m talking about mentally letting go of our “work lives”, from which we so desperately need a break, and tuning in to this thing called a vacation.

In the “olden days” of BB – Before Blackberry, for those of us who remember such a time – we knew how to vacation. We had to! There were no smart phones to keep us posted of every office development or tempt us with daily happenings on social media.

Heck, at the companies I worked for even email or the internet was not widely used until the mid-to-late ‘90’s. Many of us did not even have laptops unless you worked in IT. Being unplugged was the norm.

Now I’m amused by people I see on vacation who are almost proud of trying to stay connected to work. It’s as if they believe they are so important they must check-in with work or read their email at least once a day.

Ouch; did I touch a nerve?

I’ve heard the arguments for staying connected and have even bought into them myself on occasion.

  • “At least I know what’s going on before I get home.”
  • “This way my inbox is not so full when I return.”
  • Or how about, “I’m the manager/director/boss; I’m needed.”

My BS meter registers “high” when I hear such comments.

Truth is, there will always be a problem at the office and there will always be “one more email.” Staying connected does nothing except provide a false sense of security, steals time from your loved ones, and may cause you to tense up. It robs you of the reason you took a vacation in the first place.

I had a very wise boss once tell me, “There is nothing that can go wrong while you’re gone that we can’t fix when you get back.” (Remember this, Jodi?)

At the time I was leaving for a two-week vacation out of the country, in the “olden days” without cell phones, email or internet. I was so nervous about leaving I was almost physically ill. I simply knew a catastrophe would occur in my absence; the business would go to hell in a hand-basket; I would be fired for poor results; or they would move my office to the basement.

You know what? The world kept spinning; the business survived; the building and my office were still in-tact. My assistant handled everything well. I had the trip of a lifetime. And I returned more refreshed than ever.

That’s when I learned the value of a vacation; of unplugging and letting go.

So how do you unplug, let go of work, and relax? Here are 4 ways to prepare yourself and the office for your vacation:

Delegate Wisely
Choose a point person for your boss to contact in your absence. Outline your expectations clearly – in writing – for your point person and each member of the team. Review with them a couple days prior to leaving. Allow each person time to ask questions and make sure everyone understands what you expect to see upon your return. Provide a list of people for your team to contact in case they have questions.

Remember, this is part of being a business person. They – and you – need to learn how to handle shifts in responsibility. After all what would happen, God forbid, if you were suddenly hospitalized without warning? A vacation should be a piece of cake in comparison.

Tie up loose ends
You know the saying, “It takes a week of overtime to prepare for vacation and a week of overtime to recover.” Do what it takes to tie-up loose ends so you feel good about leaving the office for a week. Trust me; it’s worth it.

Communicate – Boss, Designated Colleague and Clients
This should go without saying: Communicate with key people at least one or two weeks ahead of time telling them you will be out of the office. People tend to be more understanding if they have fair warning, especially clients.

Share your delegation plans with your boss, as well as a designated colleague. Ask your colleague to touch base with your team once or twice during your absence to see if they need assistance.

The Email Issue
Hopefully a key player on your team is “cc’d” on most of your emails already. If not, tell your clients and others to do so while you are on vacation and include this information in your Out of Office message. Tell your team you expect to be briefed on the top priorities – including any urgent emails – during a morning meeting your first day back.
And if you really want to, download your emails to scan on the plane ride home.

I’m not saying it’s always easy to unplug and let go. My boss at the time practiced what she preached which made it easier for us to do the same.

Here’s how I look at this situation: If I’m the ONLY PERSON at the company who can solve problems, we have a much bigger issue to worry about. Not to mention if that’s the case, then my name had better be on the front door.

Prepare, delegate, communicate and unplug. You deserve a vacation from the office and your team deserves the chance to manage the business on their own.

4 Tips to Keep Your Summer Job Search from Becoming a Hot Mess

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ice-cream-cone-1274894__180Who’s currently in the middle of a job search? Right now, in the middle of summer? Anyone?

If you happen to be searching for a new job this time of year, I’m sure you have a few words to say about it. And they are probably not nice.

I have been in your shoes.  At the time I had been laid-off and it seemed like “everyone in the world” was taking a vacation while I was stuck at home looking for my next opportunity.  Words that come to mind as I remember that time are: Hard. Lonely. Time. Vacation. Silence. Depressing.

And a hundred other words that all have similar meaning.

Here’s the deal: A job search is difficult no matter what time of year.  It’s lonely because it’s a solitary task; you and you alone are in charge of developing a job search plan and then acting on it.

Job seekers and hiring managers live in parallel dimensions where time moves differently.  For job-seekers, it moves slower than a glacier. For the hiring managers,’ time moves quickly as they are busy with work. It might be weeks between the company receiving our resume and actually making initial contact with us; then more time to schedule an interview; more time again for follow ups; and so on.

Job seekers have a sense of urgency when it comes to finding a new job that contradicts a perceived “lax” attitude by the hiring managers, which adds to our stress.

Throw summer in to the mix, our minds start playing games with us, and suddenly we believe there’s no hope of finding a job until fall, if ever.  We become a hot mess.

But it doesn’t have to be this way.

Here are 4 Tips to Keep Your Summer Job Search from Becoming a Hot Mess

Plan the work and work the plan.  In college we used to take butter pats in the cafeteria and fling them towards the ceiling to see if they would stick.  No strategy, just for fun.  You may think a similar approach is okay when looking for a new job; just take things one day at a time. Trust me when I say it’s not.  A job search is not easy. But what makes it difficult for many is the lack of a plan.  Develop a search plan with tactics to execute on a weekly basis to keep you on schedule. Don’t rely on the “butter pat” method.

Take advantage of summer hours. While your schedule hasn’t changed, many of your former colleagues and others in your network may have relaxed summer hours. Now is a great time to reconnect and network while they may be available for morning coffee, a lunch break or even meeting after work.  Don’t miss this opportunity to share your career goals with these valuable connections.

Go back to school. While things may be a bit slower, take time to learn something new or brush up on old skills. Sign up for an online course, read a book or enroll at a community college; attend a workshop or seminar. While you’re at it, update your resume and LinkedIn profile too.

Socialize. Face it; you’re going to get lonely while looking for a new job.  Be sure to get out and have some fun. Hit the gym, spend time on a hobby, or even volunteer. You’ll meet new friends and feel good about yourself or helping others at the same time.

Most importantly, don’t take a vacation from your job search! Hiring may slow down but it doesn’t stop. You want your name to be top-of-mind with hiring managers when they are ready to make their move.

All it takes is a little planning and a lot of patience.

Lessons Learned at My High School Reunion

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Wall decor (2)Let’s be honest: High school for me was good, but it wasn’t exactly what I would consider my “glory days.”

Let me paint the picture:  I was very small for my age and I’m pretty sure the faculty thought my parents mistakenly dropped me off at the high school instead of the junior high.

I dreamt of being popular: the girl everyone wanted to talk with, be friends with, sit with. No way will that ever happen to me, I thought.  Especially since I was afraid to say “Hi” when walking to my next class; that’s a bit of a problem when one wants to make friends.

You see, on the inside I had a huge personality and 100-watt smile. On the outside I was painfully shy, walking through the halls with my head down, scared to death to utter a word to anyone, confident that others were talking about me. And not in a good way.

I didn’t assign to any particular crowd, participating in both popular and, for lack of a better word, nerdy endeavors.

This perception may not have been what others thought of me, but it was my perception. And we all know that perception is reality.  

The one ray of sunshine was my best friend, who happened to be popular. She had the titles, the boys, the accolades – and I was right there next to her. I was convinced that classmates knew me only as “Popular girl’s friend” as we walked together down the hall or stood at our locker. But it didn’t matter. We were best pals and I lived vicariously through her.

Fast-forward many years.

The good news about graduating high school is that we all have a chance to reinvent ourselves, or at least improve and mature with age.  I, for one, am so happy about this. The shy girl who was afraid to speak to others in high school is no longer afraid to walk up to strangers and introduce herself.  It’s amazing what life plus work experience plus maturity will do to a person.

Not to mention a healthy perspective on what was really happening during those high school years. Was everyone really talking about me as I walked down the halls? Highly doubtful. Just as I was concerned with myself, I’m pretty sure others were thinking about themselves at the time too.

And if they were talking about me, who cares? A big WHATEVER heading their way.

Which brings me to high school reunions. I recently attended mine and it was the best party I’ve been to in a long time. None of the worries I had from high school entered my mind. People arrived simply happy to attend, to reconnect with old friends, and to make new ones.

It was a dream come true for this gal, the “Formerly-shy-but-now-will-speak-to-anyone” type, who felt popular for once with the high school crowd. People actually wanted to talk to me! And I had no fear as I walked straight up to others to say “Hi, do you remember me?” Even if they didn’t, it didn’t matter because we all pretended we did.

Two lessons learned at my high school reunion:

  1. People are not always as they seem.  The high school girl who didn’t speak was simply scared and shy. I’m sure many who were loud and boisterous back in high school were also nervous; they simply had a different way of showing it.
  2. People can – and do – change.  I’m now friends with many women from high school with whom I would never have been friends back in the day, and the feeling is mutual. A little older, a little wiser, and now we have the best time together. We support each other like true friends do.

So what does this have to do with work, since this is a career-focused blog? 

  • A similar thing happens during our careers. We are different people when we start out, we make mistakes, we learn from them (hopefully) and we move on.
  • When reconnecting with someone you met ages ago when you were both just starting your careers, try to remember that people can –and do – change, mature, learn, and grow.  Don’t make networking decisions or recommendations based on what you remember from that early job. Their current work/abilities may not reflect what you remember about them when they were fresh out of school.

Most important, be kind. We all were young once.  Thankfully, we’ve improved.

Seeking A Promotion? Don’t Do This

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one-hundred-1165990_1920Attitude can be everything when it comes to work, especially if we are seeking a promotion. How we conduct ourselves both on a day-to-day basis, as well as when we are tasked with new challenges, bears more weight than sometimes we realize.

A crazy example of this recently happened to a friend of mine. For the sake of the story and protecting the innocent, I’m going to call him Joe.  Hi Joe!

Joe manages a team of hard-working, educated professionals who all contribute to the success of multi-million dollar projects. Everyone works on multiple projects at once, and sometimes a person may be moved to a different project based on where the help is needed at that moment.

This sounds pretty typical of a workplace environment, doesn’t it?

Even Joe, at his senior level, jumps from project to project, staying late and coming in early. It’s the nature of the industry.

Imagine Joe’s surprise when a member of his team came to him, expressing frustration because he had been asked to work on a new project, one that he didn’t particularly like.

He told Joe point-blank, “I’m not going to give it 100%.”

Wow.

“I’m not going to put in my best effort because I don’t like this project.”  Or, what the employee was really saying, “I’m going to have a toddler’s temper tantrum. Nyaah, nyaah, nyaah.”

There is so much wrong here I almost don’t know where to begin. Let’s look at possible explanations for this employee’s approach to handling this work situation:

  • It’s reverse psychology of some sort, telling his boss he’s not going to do a good job and hoping that when the he does deliver a good product, his boss thinks more highly of him.
  • Maybe he’s trying to hide the fact that he’s only good at one type of work, and the new project doesn’t play to his strengths?
  • He won too many “Participation” trophies and is now convinced he knows what’s best for him.
  • He’s never heard the word “No”.
  • Perhaps he’s simply lazy.
  • Could it be that he’s really that stupid to tell his boss he’s not going to do his best?

This is a highly educated person who’s been employed long enough to figure out how business works; you’d think he would have enough common sense to know better.

I’ve managed dozens, if not hundreds, of people over the course of my career, and while I know not everyone was pleased with all of their assignments I’ve never had anyone tell me they would not give it their best shot.

This employee was clearly not thinking when he uttered those fateful words. 

While not an offense that will cost him his job, it is definitely going to be remembered.

Here’s what I anticipate will happen:

  • First, this conversation will be shared by his boss with other leaders of the firm
  • As a result, when new project opportunities come up, this employee will not be the first person considered
  • When reviewing candidates for promotion, this employee will not be advancing. With an attitude like that, why should he be trusted to handle more responsibility for the company?

The lessons here are many. Most important: Think about your long-term strategy and career growth before complaining to your boss about a short-term project.

Giving 100% to a short-term project will add to your resume and has the potential to make both you and your boss look like super stars. The long-term implications show you are a team player who can deliver on any number of projects vs. being a whiner who is self-centered, lazy, and refuses to work except on select projects.

It’s your choice; it’s your career.  But don’t complain when you don’t get a promotion.

3 Reasons Not to Use a Creative Resume Format

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Hi Everyone! It’s a “two-fer” week, with a video blog as well as a written version.  Choose the format you want and enjoy!

When it comes to creative inspiration, I love Pinterest. It’s one of the greatest apps ever. Ever.

There’s a category for everything, from weddings (a no-brainer) to cooking to home decorating to fashion and more. The best part is that instead of keeping stacks of dog-eared magazines lying around the house, we can de-clutter by keeping multiple boards filled with pins of our favorite things. All saved for future use. Or simply to dream about.

Very crafty. Very Inspirational. Very Creative.

So many wonderful new ways to spin old favorites, which is great.

Except when it comes to resumes.

As a career coach, I’m going out on a limb here in saying that I’m pretty sure the super cute, super fun, super creative resumes – while they are ALL of those things – are not necessarily the best for your job search.

I can tell I’ve burst your Pinterest bubble.

Being creative is good, yet maybe this is not the best time to bring out the glue gun.  There are literally hundreds of creative resume formats on Pinterest and they seem to fall into these categories:

The Colored Paper Resume
Really, colored paper? As much as I love stationery, it can come across as a bit juvenile. Seriously, it can be hard to read your information on colored paper. The biggest issue is that colored paper does not work well in an Applicant Tracking System (ATS) – you know; the electronic system that sucks up our resumes when we apply for jobs online? Which we all have to do, by the way, even if we know someone inside the company. Why run the risk of your information being garbled?

The Head Shot
Never put a photo on your resume. Ever. Seems like a no-brainer, with the potential for age, sex and race discrimination. Yes, there are other ways for a potential employer to learn this information but why provide it yourself? Not to mention that your photo is not going to fair well when scanned in the company’s ATS.

The Infographic
I appreciate a well-done infographic for its ability to simplify a difficult concept. Really, I do. I’ve yet to see a well-done infographic resume. Usually it takes a simple concept – the resume – and turns it into a cute yet confusing document. In some cases, the result is childish. And once again, the format does not mesh with the ATS.

3 Reasons Not to Use a Creative Resume Format:

1.Graphic treatments, color and other creative designs don’t work well with the Applicant Tracking System (ATS)
2. You may open yourself up to discrimination
3. Your creative attempt may come across as confusing or even childish

A simple, clean design is the best format when it comes to your resume. Lots of white space on no more than two pages. A basic font such as Arial, Calibri, or Times Roman used throughout. No cursive or mixed fonts.

Remember, the goal is to get your information through the ATS to a human being who will decide whether or not to bring you in for an interview. If the format is too much for the ATS to handle and your information becomes garbled, there’s not much of a chance for an interview.

If you want to use a more creative resume format once you’ve secured an in-person interview, have a second version ready. But see my points above.

Career Panic: How Do I Know If This Job Is The Right Job?

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keyboard-114439_1920My first career-panic moment occurred at the beginning of ninth grade.

I was only thirteen at the time when the guidance counselor asked, “What do you plan to major in when you get to college?”

The blank stare on my face must not have registered my answer for her as she persisted by asking, “Well, what do you want to be when you grow up?”

Honestly, I didn’t have a clue. Not one.

At that point my career plans consisted of trying out for cheerleader for the current year, with a backup plan to continue with dance and orchestra.  Looking ahead to high school I was leaning more towards drill team vs. cheerleading but I figured I had another nine months before tryouts to think about it.

The panic that took over as I thought about a life-long career option was almost too much to bear.  I went home in tears, convinced that I would be a failure in life because I had not chosen a career path at age thirteen.

My parents just smiled and said, “Don’t worry; you’ll figure it out. One step at a time.”

Easy for them to say! My life was falling apart before my eyes and they’re telling me to remain calm?

Looking back, I know that mom and dad were right.  I only wish they would have explained things a bit more.

I see a similar type of panic with some of my younger clients when they are interviewing for a job or an internship. Despite having years of college and/or degrees on their resume, many have yet to truly determine what they want to be when they “grow up”.

They ask me, “How do I know if this job is the right job? Or even the right company?”  “What if it isn’t ‘The One’”?

The answer is: You don’t know.  None of us has a crystal ball.

You don’t know if it’s the right job, the right company, if you’ll enjoy the work, or if you’ll like the people.

The only thing we can do is take it one step at a time.

Personally, I look at several criteria when evaluating a job offer:

  • How does this job fit into my overall career strategy, both long-term and short-term?
  • Will the job add something new to my resume? Skills, title, responsibility, industry?
  • Is this job satisfying a personal need and/or desire? Example, transitioning from one career to another. Could be considered part of your career strategy.
  • What’s my gut telling me?  Do I have a good feeling about the work I’ll be doing, the people, the company?
  • Conversely, have any warnings gone off in my head that won’t go away?  Sometimes that means ignoring a monetary offer so good it’s hard to pass up.

It can help to write down the answers to such questions or even perform a SWOT analysis if that makes you feel better.

But don’t over-analyze; there is no perfect answer.

Accept the job offer that feels right based on your criteria and give it your all.  Learn what you like – and don’t like – about the work and the industry.  Apply those learnings when you decide to move on to the next opportunity in a few years.

Sometimes we’ll hit a home-run the first time at bat.  But don’t panic if you strike out. More than likely, it will take a few swings before we find our true calling. 

We learn from every job experience, even those we are not crazy about.

Remember: One step at a time. One job at a time.

Most Common Interviewing Mistake

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photo-1455139960217-3de50ca3bc8cPing! Buzz! Ring! It’s so exciting when the phone alerts us with a prospective employer wanting to chat about a new opportunity.

An interview – even a phone interview – brings us one step closer to finding our next job.

When this happens, clients will immediately contact me for advice. They know the importance of the first interview; a stellar performance may secure a second interview.

The most common interviewing mistake I’ve noticed across all clients? There’s too much focus on “me” and not enough on the company.

Sometimes it’s subtle, sometimes it’s wide out in the open. Either way, the focus is misdirected.

I see this when we are doing mock interviews or when I’m reviewing written answers to potential questions that might be asked. And I stop to redirect my clients’ response.

Yet they look at me like I’ve sprouted a second head.

“But I’m trying to show them what I’m about”
“I need to figure out if the company is right for me”
“I want to explain why I’m leaving my last company”

The list goes on and on.

My open and honest feedback? Honestly, the hiring manager doesn’t care. Truly, he or she doesn’t.

Here’s what the hiring manager is thinking: “I’ve got a problem and I’m wondering if you are the person who can help me solve the problem. Are you that person?”

The hiring manager doesn’t need to know that you want a place to “learn and grow” – they probably don’t have time to teach you. They need someone to solve a problem.

If you spend too much time talking about why you are leaving your current job or why it was not a good fit, you are wasting precious time that could be spent convincing the hiring manager why you have the right skills for the job.

Think about how you answer their questions: Are you telling them more about what “you want” from the job or more about how “you can contribute” to the success of the team/organization? Big difference.

This is a hard concept for many to grasp. They think the focus of the interview process is entirely on the candidate.

It’s a two-way street, really. The company is looking for the best hire and you are looking for a good fit as well.

If it were a dance, it would be a Tango, with both parties moving back and forth in sort of give and take until a decision is made.

In this dance, remember to focus on the company and your strengths. Position your responses to show you are the answer to their problems and watch as a smile appears on the hiring manager’s face.

By doing this you are dancing your way to an offer.

Is The Word “Can’t” Getting In The Way Of Your Success?

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lawnmower-384589_1920 (1)Recently I learned a new skill: how to mow the lawn. That’s not a big deal for many people; in fact I bet most would love to NOT know how to mow the lawn just to get out of doing so.

Yet for me it was monumental. Something I’ve wanted to do since I was a kid.

Dad never allowed me to mow the lawn, saying it was too dangerous. Or I was too small. Or the lawnmower was too big for me to push and besides, it would eat me up.

Whatever the reason, it was one more in a series of “You can’t because….” that I heard throughout my childhood.

It’s a wonder I can do anything at all since it seems like I was constantly told “You can’t” by well-meaning parents, trying to keep me safe or thinking they were freeing me up to study or have a childhood.  Other adults chimed in to the “She Can’t” chorus along the way: she can’t reach that, she can’t handle that, she won’t make the team, etc.

In their misguided attempts to protect me from whatever, the only think I heard was “Can’t”.

Ouch. That word can be pretty damaging, if you let it.

It can make you to truly believe you are unable to do something. It can bring in fear and doubt and a host of other irrational feelings that mess with your head.

Mowing the lawn was one of those “can’t’s” dad was adamant about. I guess he truly believed I might get sucked up into the lawnmower, and having to remove my carcass was something he just couldn’t bear.  Since I was the ultimate responsible child, this was really an irrational fear.

It felt great to finally power up a lawn mower and move back and forth across the grass. It was harder than anticipated due to all the sticks and ruts from the uneven surface of the vacant lot I was trying to mow.

Not to mention that Hubby neglected to tell me our mower is not “self-propelled”. He said this would make me stronger. Whatever.

As I pushed the mower I thought about growing up, listening to people tell me “you can’t”.  It’s a wonder I ever accomplished anything.

Until this moment I’ve never thought about the fact that I’ve persevered in the face of challenge. It’s never occurred to me I can’t do something, despite being told so throughout my life.

  • Play the violin, one of the hardest instruments to master? You should really pick something else. Nope, I’m going to play the violin.
  • A degree in Engineering? Why not, even though math was far from my best subject nor did I possess a natural aptitude for numbers.
  • Write and publish a book? Since when are you a writer and what do you know about publishing? I’ve been told I write well and the book has received great reviews.
  • Get a job at a youth-filled agency after a layoff and at your age? Have you lost your mind as well as your job? No one will hire you! Guess what; they hired me. Boom!

It never enters my mind that I can’t do something. I may not have the answer right away or I may not be able to do it all on my own, yet with a little education or research or even help from a friend, I’ve always been able to find a way to make it work.

When it comes to our careers, we all need to stare the word “Can’t” in the face and tell it to “Back Off”. Wipe it from your vocabulary; it does you no good to have that kind of negativity around.

Especially during a job search.

You will encounter the word “no” more than the word “yes”; be prepared for it. If well-meaning friends and family try to say you “can’t” for whatever reason, smile and walk away. They are not you; this is your journey; you get to decide what you want to do and what you don’t want to do. It’s not a matter of “can’t”.

I hear the word “can’t” more from clients who are a bit more advanced in their careers and convinced by media or friends and family that “no one” will hire them.  Really? Have you spoken to EVERYONE who is in a position to hire someone?

True, experienced older job seekers need to be prepared and present themselves well. That doesn’t mean it’s hopeless, as many would like to believe.

When the word “can’t” comes to mind, ask yourself if you are truly unable or is it simply a challenge to overcome.

With a good strategic plan, perseverance, maybe some new skills and a little help from friends, anything is possible.

Look at me, I’ve got some serious lawn-mowing skills to add to my resume. Next up: edging.

 

Work Anniversaries: A Good Time to Pause and Reflect to Move Forward

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tulips-1208206_1920We recently celebrated our twenty-year wedding anniversary.  Twenty years! Almost hard to believe.

Each year on our anniversary we take time to pause and reflect on the past year, as well as on all of the years we’ve been together. We love to reminisce about what’s happened.

Fun things like:

  • Whether or not Hubby should keep his “Movember” beard (yes; he looks adorable)
  • Where should we go on our next big adventure trip, and where will we get a money tree to fund it
  • Initial success of my Career Coaching biz and plans for future growth
  • The dream house we will build someday

And more serious stuff:

  • Remembering holding each other and the paws of our furry best friend as we said goodbye
  • Thankful for health after both suffering injuries
  • Forecasting the life of our eleven year old car that’s still running
  • Savings plans to fund our other plans

We also look ahead, rolling our discussions into our plans for the future; some short-term and some long-term.

As I pause to look back at the past twenty years, here’s what I see:

  • Happiness and Fun
  • Personal growth
  • Stability
  • Enjoying the moments yet looking toward the future
  • Learning and gaining strength

For the next twenty years and beyond, we are planning for and predicting the same.  Happiness. Growth. Learning. Fun. Enjoyment.

It’s good to take stock of where we are right now and where we want to be five, ten, twenty years down the road. If we need to make adjustments to reach our goals, now is the time to start doing so.

Similarly, work anniversaries are a good time to pause and reflect on our careers, to note where we are now and to redefine short-term as well as long-term career goals.  A great opportunity to strategize and plan the steps we need to take to achieve those goals.

How do we know if we are headed in the right direction career-wise? While each person’s situation will be different, in general here are some questions to ask yourself:

  • Am I enjoying my work?
  • Am I growing professionally, and is there opportunity for advancement? (assuming you want to advance)
  • Does my job allow me to use new skills and keep up with my industry in ways that will benefit me should I need to/want to find a new job?
  • Is there stability at my company (as much as there can be nowadays) or are layoffs imminent?
  • Overall, am I in a position to get to where I want to be professionally?

There may be more questions to ask; these will get you started.

Most of the time we will find that our careers are on the right trajectory with only minor tweaks such as taking an online class or webinar to improve our skills or even get involved in industry associations to add to our resume.

If you find that you’re no longer happy at work, try to determine why.

  • Do you still enjoy the people and the work but are frustrated due to lack of opportunity for advancement?
  • Is it the environment at work, the people you work with, or even the particular industry – rather than the work itself – that makes you unhappy?

Whatever it is, take time to think and carefully consider next steps. Consult with a trusted friend or consider hiring a career coach to help.

The important thing is to periodically pause and reflect on your career to make sure you are on track to achieve your goals. This is your career; nurture it as you would any relationship you care about.

 

 

 

What To Expect – And Not To Expect – From An Internship

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woman-882337_1920The summer of my senior year in college was special – I had landed an internship at a chemical products processing plant. This was not just any internship; I was one of only two engineering students chosen for the program.

I had built the job up in my head, knowing the work would be stimulating, my co-workers interesting and it would confirm beyond a shadow of a doubt my choice of career.

Oh, to be young and full of hope, yet so naïve!

First, that summer ended up being one of the hottest on record. It probably came as no surprise to anyone except us interns that a chemical plant is not air-conditioned. Jeans, long sleeve shirts, close-toed shoes, and safety glasses were required. I don’t have to tell you that perspiration was an issue.

The work, while it did require using our brains, was more physical than I imagined. Our job was to re-wire an oven kiln. Yep, never thought I’d say those words. Definitely not the kind of work I had anticipated or even wanted to do in my career. Occasionally the plant manager gave us a desk assignment, although it was rare.

For a woman earning a technical degree, the job provided foreshadowing of what was to come when I entered the workforce, in the form of crude behavior and hazing by workers in the plant. I learned how to roll with the punches and dish it right back. Rather than let their childish pranks bother me, my mantra became, “Never let them see you sweat”.

I was so happy when August rolled around.

My next internship was a bit better; although still not perfect at least it was actually inside, at a design firm, and definitely more in line with my interests.

Some might say my internships were failures, especially the chemical plant. I disagree.

Many students mistake summer internships for semi-glamorous, made-for-TV job experiences, when all that does is provide a back drop for disappointment.

The truth about internships is they are not the “be-all, end-all” to a job search. Somewhere along the way we have confused an internship with providing a long-lasting career instead of what it was meant to provide: real work experience.

It’s important to understand what to expect – and not to expect – from an internship. Here are a few things to keep in mind:

  • Try it Before You Buy It. Let’s say you’re a marketing major torn between consumer and business marketing. A summer internship provides a short-term opportunity to try a job without committing long-term. If you are on the fence, just pick one and give it all you’ve got for the summer to determine if you like it. No strings attached!
  • Resume Builder. This is especially important for undergrads: internships provide a great way to add valuable work experience to your resume. Sometimes it may not seem like the work is stimulating, yet if you are observant you will learn much about the organization and work in general. Take notes about the projects you worked on, including metrics that contributed to business success, to add to your resume.
  • Networking Opportunities. You never know when you might be looking for a job. Your colleagues should become part of your professional network – you know, that thing we keep mentioning? Make sure you have connected with them on LinkedIn before you leave the company. Stay in touch with the hiring manager and HR representative for future job opportunities as well.

What an internship is not:

A guarantee of a full-time job offer at graduation. That would be great, yet there are no guarantees. Don’t place all of your career dreams in that basket.

Work hard at your summer internship, make professional connections and take note of what you like about the work as well as what you don’t. This is part of your college learning experience, as well as building your resume.

Place less emphasis on finding your “dream” job at this point and more emphasis on “learning” – even if it’s learning what you don’t like.