Waiting to Exhale

In my coaching practice, I have counseled numerous clients on how to be the most productive with the time between jobs. The obvious answer is to approach a job search as your full-time job. However, I have found there are many considerations in deciding how best to use this time.

While you are “holding your breath” waiting for that phone call or e-mail for an interview or job offer, consider the following:

• Use a calendar to schedule your days in blocks of time. You probably maintained a calendar at your last job, so continue the habit. Through it, you will develop a structure and plan for the days or weeks ahead. And that, in turn, can help keep your spirits up and help you stay productive.
• While you should consider your job search as your full-time job, in reality you cannot spend 8-10 hour stretches each day on your search. Schedule blocks of time to include other activities (see below) to refresh yourself and stay active.
• This is a great time to pursue a few activities that you have been meaning to but have not had the time or put off doing. Take time to exercise (even a short walk to start), take a yoga classes, join a local gym or YMCA to work out or swim, start meditating or join a group in your community to have “face time” with other people. These activities are an investment in yourself and re-creating balance that you may have sacrificed in the past.
• Often when we are engaged in a job search, there are many days when we do not feel we have made any progress in the “fruits of our labor.” One way to counter this feeling is to undertake a home project and schedule 1-2 hours each day to work on it. I had one client, a C-level executive involved in a protracted search, who spent a couple of hours each day and weekend time finishing his basement. Each day he could see physical progress and it helped him. Soon he had a new job and family room. If that is more than you wish to tackle, try a smaller project, plant a garden, build a shed, scrapbook family photos or whatever works for you.
  

While to some these suggestions may seem obvious, it never hurts to reinforce good ideas. More than one psychologist has suggested that the best therapy in conquering the “blues” is to keep busy and stay productive. The by-product of outside activities is when you speak with a networking contact, meet a recruiter or visit an employer, you will most likely be in a better frame of mind to maximize the impression you make.

When you are back in the workforce, and involved the daily grind, you can look back on this time as trying but productive. You may even miss this time between jobs a bit.

Please feel free to add your comments and suggestions. We would love to hear from you.

Keep Careering Today and Everyday.

Mark

A.B.C.: “Always Be Careering”

In my executive search and career coaching practice, I have noticed something over the years. Most of us tend to give thought and expend energy on our future job and career moves either when we are forced to do so by unforeseen circumstances or due to the utter misery in our current job or organization.

Sadly, many of us have been experienced at least one of these situations; some of us have unfortunately lived through both. When we find ourselves in these difficult positions, the stress or anxiety is often exacerbated because we are not prepared for the new and often unexpected challenge.

Getting Prepared
With increasing employment uncertainty and with today's workers changing jobs jobs or careers with great frequency than in any generation in history, we must begin to look at the subject of job and career transition in a new way.

In essence, we must be mindful of a new set of “A.B.C.’s” that you didn’t learn in grade school or even business school:

“Always Be Careering”

“Always Be Careering” is a mindset that your job and career search must be a constant, 24/7/365, holistic approach to “the hunt.” Just as you need to manage your finances, maintain your homes and automobiles and pay your bills, you need to make time to constantly and consistently pay attention to the care and feeding of your career.

By that I mean:

• Schedule time every day to expand your outside network and catch up with former or long lost colleagues and friends. Be open about what is going on with you.
• Always share a short career or job “elevator speech” with whoever you come in contact with. It does not matter if it is your kid’s coach, a neighbor, the guy at the dry cleaner, people know other people. You just never know who.
• Wherever you go, work or family related, always look and act your best. You just never know how that next first impression can have an impact on your future.
• Expand your world. It is important to join and be active in your work, family, community and leisure activities. Also, carve out some time for local professional organizations, either in your field or local networking meetings.
• Finally, take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep well, exercise even it’s a brisk walk, do some yoga or meditation and have ways to take your mind off of things for a while each day. It is time well spent and will help create a great reserve of energy for the times ahead.
• And, finally, relax! As with all difficult times, we’ll work through it.

Many of us have life, auto, home and medical insurance, but unfortunately there is no insurance to help you replace your job or career. When it comes to this area of our lives, we each need to be self-insured. The best way to be self-insured and self-assured is A.B.C.: “Always Be Careering.”

Please let me know if you found this helpful or have thoughts to add. We’re all in this together! Also, please share suggestions for future topics.

Be well. And, Always Be Careering!

Mark

Should I Stay or Should I Go?

In these difficult times, we see the news filled with announcements of layoffs and dramatic increases in the numbers of the un- and underemployed growing as the stock market continues to nosedive. Scary stuff.

As a result, there is great focus in the media, and deservedly so, on those who are or will soon be unemployed. However, not as much attention is being paid to what is going through the minds of the employees remaining at these shrinking organizations. The employee population and other resources may be dwindling, but the work that needs to be done has not.

If you are one of the “corporate survivors,” you are probably groping for answers to one or more of the following questions, in no particular order:

• Why was I selected to stay?


• Will the “next shoe drop,” and if so, will my position be eliminated?


• Who will absorb the work left behind by the departed employees, and how much of it will be assigned to me?


• How will I be able to do a good job if my workload increases and/or available resources to do my job decreases?


• Should I stay or should I start looking?

Unfortunately, in these challenging times there are no clear cut answers and the challenges and decisions are complex. And, even with all the professional advice in the world at your fingertips, you are in the best position to answer these questions for yourself. However, as if you already did not have enough to think about, permit me to share a few thoughts.

From my daily contacts in my executive search and career transition work, I am gathering that most of you in the “survivor” positions are falling in one of two categories: (1) the more “risk averse” are hunkering down and staying put for now. That is the “devil that you know is better than the devil you don’t know” strategy; (2) the more “risk tolerant” (excuse the Wall Street jargon -- I know it is not in favor!) may wish to see if the “grass is greener on the other side” and want to at least “stick their toe” in the job market to see just what’s out there, if anything. Neither is a bad strategy if done for the right reasons, given your individual situation.

Thrivival Tips
Whatever path you chose, keep in mind the following:

• If you decide to stay, take every opportunity to build your skill set to include new or enhance your skill set. Pay particular attention to skills that will make you even more valuable to your current employer or ones that are sought after in the job marketplace.


• Take advantage of opportunities to volunteer for meaningful projects or join teams at work. It will make you that much more valuable, increase your skills, and be seen as someone who is meeting the challenges of a difficult environment. You don’t want to overload yourself, so do so when it is manageable.


• Project as positive and “glass half full” demeanor as you can muster. It will say a lot about you and who you are.

Regardless of what choice you make, be certain to consult with your mentor if you have one and your loved ones. Your family has a vested interest in your decisions and a concern for you. And, do your best to stay healthy during this stressful time. I’m not your doctor or your mother, but eat well, try to get plenty of sleep and exercise. Try yoga, meditation or just going for long walks. Again, I’m not your mother or doctor, but for your own well-being, “bundle up. It’s cold out there!”

As my coach used to say to me about keeping difficult times in perspective, “This too shall pass.” Be well and Keep Careering Today and Everyday!

Mark