Work, success, and meaning at every stage of your career
I recently received an email from a jobseeker who asked whether it was appropriate to pull out of the interview process on her own initiative. While her question was about unemployment claim eligibility, I was curious to know why anyone would decline an interview in this competitive job market.
Whether you’re currently in the midst of a career change, you’re hoping to start up your own business, or you simply despise your job and you’re looking for other opportunities, there are numerous podcasts out there on the web that can help.
One of the barriers to change, according to the authors, is the unhelpful advice people give you when they see you have a problem. We’ve all experienced this and the authors call it “Results masked as advice.” In other words, people are telling you what results that want you to achieve, instead of telling you what to do next. “Be a team player” or “Be more open to constructive criticism” sound like good advice, until you actually try to do it.
Change Anything is subtitled “The New Science of Personal Success.” Written by Kerry Patterson , Joseph Grenny , David Maxfield , Ron McMillan , and Al Switzler, the book bills itself as a strategic, step by step system for adopting—and sticking to—better behaviors. The authors have tested behavior changing methods, and claim to be able to help anyone break bad habits – from addiction to overeating to being stuck in your career.
One of the reasons I find it hard to ask for recommendations is that I sometimes get asked for one by people I don’t know well. I take my reputation very seriously, and giving a personal endorsement to someone is for me, a very big deal. After all, your reputation hangs on this person’s future performance. If the person turns out not to be competent, your judgment is questioned. If the person does something bad, your character is in question.
Monster has introduced a mobile app for job seekers through iTunes. It’s a valuable resource for anyone looking for a job that has access to iTunes. And best of all, the app is free.
What I’ve learned is this:
Everything you need is already inside of you.
Don’t be afraid of change; embrace it as an adventure.
Believe in the value of who you are and what you do.
Do whatever it takes to set yourself up to succeed today.
When you’re in a job search, especially if you’re in a smaller town, you are always “on.” Your appearance – clothes, grooming and general energy level – are all a part of how people perceive you at first glance.
In the Hidden Job Market, size of the company is one of the most important features you can consider in your search. According to Donald Asher, author of Cracking the Hidden Job Market, says that large corporations are easier to find, but small companies are the ones creating new jobs. It’s also a smart strategy to be looking for work in places others don’t bother.
Mark McGuinness, a creative entrepreneur, says that a creative person needs three things to be happy:
Freedom – to do what you want, when you want and how you want it. Not just in
holidays and spare time – but also doing meaningful work, in your own way.
Money – to maintain your independence and fund your creative projects. Of course you want a nice place to live, but you’re not so worried about a bigger car than the guy next door. You’d rather spend money on experiences than status symbols.
Time – to spend as you please, exploring the world and allowing your mind to wander in search of new ideas.
