Career Cornucopia  

Cornucopia: "an inexhaustible store, abundance"

The Career Life Coaching Newsletter
March, 2004    Issue 5

Stuck in a job you don’t enjoy? Are you looking for a better work situation but not finding it? Maybe you need to re-examine your skill set in relation to what motivates you. How do your skills match up with your interests? You may have a talent for math but no interest in working with numbers or equations. On the other hand you may be incredibly motivated to be an "American Idol" but have minimal vocal talent. The key is to find a match—your skills and talents coupled with your interests and motivations. (I offer a wonderful assessment that shows you these matches, see the MAPP)

Think about what types of things you most enjoy doing, hobbies, crafts, leisure time activities, what makes you "come alive" when you are doing it?

Create two lists, in the first column write down activities you enjoy doing as action statements for example; teaching, writing, running, analyzing. Next look at the context or environment that you prefer to do these activities in. A friend of mine really enjoys designing and sewing (action statements) beautiful dresses for ballroom dancers (context) in her home and markets them on the Internet (environments). After being downsized from her corporate job, she turned her hobby into a viable income and now has her own company. Look at the activities you enjoy and consider these questions:

• Who will benefit from this work I want to do?

• What skills, talents and abilities do I possess that are marketable?

• Where can my talents make the greatest contribution?

• What types of work environments will foster my personal and professional growth?

Once you have a clearer picture of what kind or work you want to do and where you might find it, go to the next step:

Information Interviewing

This is the Look before you Leap phase of finding the work you’ll love. It amazes me how many people invest considerable time and money in getting trained for a career that they truly know little about. I’m not talking about the occupation; I’m talking about the day-to-day work tasks, the environment, the routine, opportunities for advancement—the big picture. If you really want to know what it is like to work as a vet tech/dancer/teacher/machinist/whatever, go and talk to one. Better yet, hang out with them for a few hours when they are working. People generally like to help and are flattered that you want to learn about their professions. The benefits are tremendous: you get inside information on the nature of work you are exploring, gain insight into your strengths and weaknesses, expand your network of contacts and optimally, discover new employment opportunities.

Steps for Information Interviewing:

• Do research on the occupational/jobs/companies you are interested in

• Ask people you already know if they can refer you to someone that does the kind of work you are exploring.

• Contact the person you want to interview by phone or e-mail and be sure to mention who gave you their name.

• Be courteous and suggest a meeting over coffee before work or at lunchtime (and be prepared to pick up the tab).

• Prepare a list of questions you want to ask, remember you are the interviewer here.

• Before leaving, ask your contact to suggest names of others that might be helpful for you to interview.

• Send a thank you note for the interview within a few days of the meeting.

• If you were given a referral to another person, make sure to let your contact know that you followed up.

If you’d like a list of sample questions to ask in an information interview, click here.

As you go through the process of information interviewing keep a file or notes of some kind so you know whom you talked to and what resulted. These contacts can be invaluable in your career. You never know when your name may come up in conversation and coincidentally a job opening becomes available. This has actually happened to me, twice! Information interviewing is key in building your network and can keep you motivated while job hunting.

Look at where you want to land before you leap into another job. Then be like the lion and bravely march into your future!

   Upcoming Events

Women on Wednesdays – A supportive circle of women in career and life transition. Meets first Wed. of the month from 7 – 9 pm. Upcoming dates, April 7 and May 5^th. $15 per evening. Contact Dee for further information.

Madison Association of Psychological Type -- Spring Mini-conference, April 23-24

Curious about personality types? Come and join us! This event is being held at the Marriott Madison West. Click here for further information.  Schedule is here.

Make this your year to GO FOR IT!
Get into the right workplace for you!

Need a little help?
Call me for a free 30-minute career path tune up!

 

"You spend two-thirds of your waking hours in work-related activities. How do you want to feel during that time? What do you want to be moving toward? The future is now."       --- Cheryl Gilman, author of Doing Work You Love Dee Relyea, M.Ed (608) 513- 9675 Madison, WI dee@careerlifecoaching.com www.careerlifecoaching.com