A note to young people: how was your summer?

Hello, you juniors and seniors in high school. And hello to you, college students.  It’s October, you are in classes, and summer is now a fading memory.  How was yours?

If you had a (paid or) unpaid job,

• how was the experience?
• (did you save some/most/any of your money?)
• what skills did you acquire?
• what mistakes did you make?
• what fun did you have?
• what memories did you create?
• how did you say good-bye?

Now that you have had time to think about your summer, I have a suggestion:  What about a thank-you letter to your boss and to anyone else who helped you significantly?  This is not the note you were forced to write after holiday gifts were received.  Rather, this is a career step.  Here’s a sample, which you may feel free to adapt and use:

Dear Charlie/Ms. Grant/Eileen,

I want to thank you for being so patient with me this summer as I learned the position of cashier/lifeguard/counselor/———.  You trusted me with responsibilities which I never could have expected in an entry-level job.  Specifically, I will remember how I learned to be patient with customers/kids/tourists and their many questions and needs.

I will also remember the advice and coaching as I learned the job.  Thank you again for the wonderful farewell card.  I will drop by to visit you soon.

Sincerely,

________.

What might happen because of this note?

• You will leave a strong, positive impression of yourself.
• You will enjoy the sense of completion as you say good-bye to the summer and hello to the next phase of your life.
• You will learn the art of appreciation, which will serve you well for the rest of your life.

If you would like to share some of what you have learned this summer, feel free to write a comment here.

Burned any (job) bridges lately?

• You resigned and told them what you really think.
• You were laid off and told them what you really think.
• In a performance appraisal, you spoke what was truly on your mind.
• You told an underling what you really think about his/her performance.
• A problem co-worker got promoted after doing less than you do, and someone asked you what you think about it.

In your answer, you may have burned a few bridges that could have furthered your career, or at least enhanced your professional reputation.

It’s understandable, we’ve all done it, and it remains a mistake.  Describing your job in anything less than positive terms always carries a risk.  Of course, it felt wonderful for a moment or two.  You had carried these negative feelings for quite a while, and you got pushed too far.  Incompetence, unethical practices, prejudice, favoritism, clique-ish behavior, and being ignored can build up internally, and most of us have expressed these feelings to the wrong people, at the wrong time.

Stop! Remember that jobs are hard to come by these days, remember that loyalty just might be rewarded, remember that you may need to be a better self-promoter.  A graceful exit is worth a lot these days.  You don’t need to stay in a negative situation, but it may take some time to find a more comfortable situation.

You need to practice your reaction to the above-cited situation.  How about these possibilities?

• I learned a great deal in this job, and I plan to carry that information with me to the new place.
• I will miss the chance to enhance my skills in customer interaction.
• Yes, I agree that I need to be more accurate in my work, and here’s what I’m doing about it…
• Timely attendance at work is of prime importance, and I have some concern about your record.
• Joe is enthusiastic about his job, and I hope he will be encouraged to continue to grow.

Pollyanna-ish?  Yes, it is.  But you will gain nothing except momentary satisfaction in badmouthing, backstabbing, or whining.  You’ll feel proud to be the person who can put a positive spin on a negative situation, at least on the job.

If you would like some counseling on how to make the best of a bad situation, in particular, how to plan a positive exit strategy, please contact me.  There are steps you can take that will keep you on the occupational high road. Please contact me at www.anneheadley.com or leave a note here.

Fewer workers + more work = your opportunity to shine

As a career counselor, I hear it  from  burned-out employees: 

They let go three people and now I’ve inherited their jobs as well as mine.  I don’t think I can do it.

Well, that’s true if business goes on as it did.  You did not suddenly become a party of four.

Now is your chance, though, to shine as an innovative, willing, flexible, valuable worker.  It’s time to schedule a meeting with the boss. Your points to make:

• I have a few thoughts about our priorities, as I’m sure you do, too.
• Clients/customers are changing in their habits/needs/questions.
• Although our turn-around time may have to be lengthened, we can improve our overall customer service by …

I hope you get the idea.  Although the characteristics of your job are unique to you, the opportunity exists for all employed people to shine, learn new skills, and expand their horizons in these challenging times.

What is not on the list for your meeting with your supervisor?

• Whining,
• I can’t do this,
• It isn’t fair,
• Why me?
• I’m stressed and I need to get out of here.

What is your immediate goal?  I hope it is to keep your job.  Ask your unemployed friends – it’s a rotten time to be job-hunting.  They would join me in urging you to work harder and smarter at your job, to contribute possible solutions instead of complaints, and emerge from this in a stronger position to move ahead when the recession is over.

If you would like to talk with a career counselor about your situation and how to make the most of it, feel free to contact me by visiting my website at www.anneheadley.com.

The Paper Trail that can save a Job

In the Federal Diary of the Washington Post (3/12/2009), there is mention of a proposed cutback of 1400 jobs by the IRS scheduled to take place in Andover and Fitchburg, Massachusetts. One of the stated reasons for this cutback is that these IRS centers are used to process paper tax returns, and more and more people are filing electronically.

Are you thinking the way I am thinking? There is something each taxpayer can do. How about filing our taxes the old-fashioned way? You put your completed form in an envelope and mail it as directed. And you might save someone’s job.

It is so discouraging to watch the news, to see the lines of hundreds of people applying for a few jobs. I feel helpless, even though I’m doing my part to make sure my clients are using the most thorough and appropriate techniques to unearth openings on their own.

I’m grateful to the Federal Diary of the Washington Post for pointing out the situation at IRS processing centers. This is something that each taxpayer can do… right now, in the next few weeks.

See you at the post office!

Success Strategies for the New Employee

In response to my previous posting asking for advice for the first weeks on the job, I heard from a friend who is new to her government position in mid-level management. This is what she has learned:

1. Keep your eyes and ears open.
2. Keep your mouth shut most of the time.
3. Ask questions and listen to the answers.
4. Read background documents.
5. Be polite to everyone.

Here are a few specifics.

Because my friend is in a relatively new position, there weren’t people to tell her exactly what her responsibilities should be or how to proceed to do them. So she asked her boss for background information on how the position came to be created. She asked once, somewhat apologetically, if she was bothering him with all these requests, and he said not at all, that he was delighted she was interested.

Be polite to everyone. Not only is this a key to providing excellent customer service (and who doesn’t want that?), you never know who will turn out to be helpful to you. You don’t yet know whose information is valuable or who has an ax to grind. You certainly don’t know who is a loose cannon or who is the office gossip.

What do you think of these strategies for success? You have your own ideas, based on your work experience. I hope you will be willing to share a few.

And if you would like to talk with a career counselor about your own career, including adjusting to a new position, please visit my website at www.anneheadley.com for contact information.

Resolved: Effective Techniques for Job-Hunters in 2009

Are you waking up this New Year’s without a job? It is time to awaken also to the realization that 2009 can be the year to bring new energy to your job search.

Let me suggest a half-dozen resolutions for you:

1. Resolve to network more effectively. This is more important than anything else I can name. If you quake at the thought of making cold calls, relax. Networking is much more than that. Read Make Your Contacts Count by Anne Baber and Lynne Waymon. This book contains manageable examples of ways to network… how to explain what you do (or would like to do), how to arrange a follow-up meeting with an interesting person, how to say thank you to people who have helped you along the way.

2. Resolve to be positive. Boy, this one is tough. There is enough negativity around, and it’s contagious. Don’t be someone to avoid. Work on points like:

• I was looking for a change in focus anyway when this reorganization came along.
• I look forward to working more creatively in a small organization such as this one,

3. Resolve to develop work samples. For many people, this is a portfolio of writing samples (a research paper from school, a clipping of a letter to the editor, a print-out of a web article you did, or a reader review of a book, toy, or movie). For others it might be an album of your event photography or a few brochures you have designed. It might be a collection of thank-you letters from the people on a team you coached last summer. It might be a customer service award from a previous job.

4. Resolve to acquire a new skill or credential. Become certified as a human resources professional. Receive a credential in substance abuse counseling. Earn a certificate in project management or graphic design. Complete your GED. Get your AA degree. Tackle that doctoral dissertation. Your application/resume will be current and more appealing.

5. Resolve to restore balance in your life. This supports resolution #2, about being positive. When all parts of one;s life are in balance, you cannot feel like a total failure. Your body can be in tune, your home can be in order, you can improve your culinary skills, you can get your car tuned up, you can balance your checkbook and do your taxes. Success! Accomplishments in one area can give you confidence in other areas. Try it.

6. Resolve to put your spiritual house in order. Whether you adhere to humanistic ethical standards or belong to an established religious community, there is guidance for your job search. Gratitude is waiting to be expressed. Regret is waiting to be acknowledged. Growth is not only possible, but part of one’s spiritual journey.

I hope at least one of these resolutions is helpful to you. If you would like to speak with a career counselor about energizing your job search, feel free to visit my website at www.anneheadley.com for contact information. I’d love to hear from you. I wish you a happy new year, with much career success in 2009.

Resolved: Creative Management for Employers in 2009

As the days of 2008 fade away, employers are  constantly being asked to do more with less. They may feel so stressed that they lose touch with their commitment to the Golden Rule. So here are a few resolutions for employers to keep in mind:

1. Resolve to communicate clearly and completely with your people. That includes information, rumors (labeled as such), and your own concerns and uncertainty.

2. Resolve to use your employees’ gifts to the fullest. These may include attributes not exactly included in their position descriptions, by the way. You never know what gifts reside in the person sitting next to you. And you won’t know unless you ask.

3. Resolve to consider your own people for in-house promotions. It is excellent for morale and loyalty.

4. Resolve to give effective feedback. It is not enough to murmur “great job” periodically. Learn what effective means. (Hint: specific, short, measurable, attainable for starts.) If you need to know more, you can consult any Ken Blanchard or Patrick Lencioni book.

5. Resolve to care about your employees’ lives, families, hobbies, ambitions, or other interests. If you know that someone is pursuing a college degree on week-ends, ask about it from time to time. Offer assistance in some form. Give recognition to family milestones.

6. Resolve to conduct lay-offs with gentleness and empathy. Because the news is so stunning and frightening, the kind things that you are saying may not be absorbed in the moment. So offer a follow-up meeting within a day or so to clarify what is going to happen next. Remember to include what kind of positive reference you will provide, along with any financial package you are offering.

If you would like to speak with an experienced career counselor about enhancing your skills as an employer, please visit my website at www.anneheadley.com for contact information.

Happy New Year!

Resolved: Improved Customer Service in 2009

Happy New Year! For those who are currently gainfully employed, congratulations, and may you keep that job in 2009. May your company flourish and grow.

It is time to look at a half-dozen new year’s resolutions that can help you keep your job and your organization keep its doors open:

1. Resolve to appreciate the fact that your customer has come to you. There are many choices out there.

2. Resolve to be friendly, using a voice that conveys warmth and interest.

3. Resolve to be a problem solver. If thrown a challenge, you will accept it and seek information and/or help in responding.

4. Resolve to treat your co-workers as the customers that they are, and extend the same courtesies and friendliness to them as you do to the walk-in.

5. Resolve to keep your life in balance, so that you arrive at each work shift refreshed and ready to do your best.

6. Resolve to thank each customer who comes your way, whether it’s a stranger, a colleague, or someone who reads your blog.

Thank you, readers, for giving me a minute or so of your time and attention. Thank you for sending notes, posting comments, and alerting me to resources that I should know about.

I will be posting some suggested New Year’s Resolutions in the next few days for employers and also for job hunters. Feel free to share your own thoughts on the coming year, with its complexities, challenges, and opportunities.

The recession and your career: survival tools

It is official: because of some statistics, we can now state that we are in a recession and have been so for some months. You and I already knew that. Anyone who watches the news, reads the newspaper, has conversations with neighbors, or makes plans in the workplace knows that.

Now that we have moved from maybe to actually, it is time to look at career survival.

If you have a job, now is the time to:

• acquire a new skill or two,
• be a problem-solver,
• present impeccable behavior,
• excel at customer service,
• remain optimistic.

If you are unemployed, now is the time to:

• revisit your resume and add examples of problem solving and customer service,
• make every day count in your search activities,
• volunteer in the community in a related field (keeping skills and work history up to date),
• form an informal alliance with another seeker or two for mutual encouragement and goal-setting,
• drop by the library and read an article in a current publication in your field,
• remain optimistic.
  

Also, remember that this uncomfortable period we are in will someday be in the past. How will you remember it? With a shudder? With a smile, because something great came of it?

Could you use some support? If you would like to meet with a career counselor to structure your job search, please visit my website at www.anneheadley.com for contact information.

Giving Thanks in Challenging Times

Whether you have finished a traditional Thanksgiving dinner with family or friends, or whether you have been pursuing other interests on this holiday set apart for gratitude, I would like to share my thanks for an outstanding year chock full of challenges, opportunities, and wonderful people.

• For individuals who entrusted themselves and their career dilemmas to me, I am grateful. The world is a better place because each of you is in it.
• For workers in places where I had the privilege of teaching or training, thank you. It is reassuring to know that there are some outstandingly creative people out there who continually strive to do better by their customers.
• For readers who followed this blog, offering comments and suggestions, you are the reasons I do it. I am gratified that the internet brings us together.
• For employed people, concerned about their future opportunities, I share the hope that the coming year will be better, calmer, more ordered than this one.
• For unemployed people, I especially pray that you will find fulfillment and opportunity in a new position. And I hope that you will look back on this time as one of the most pivotal and significant in your life. And no, you can’t see that now.

Here’s an idea: how about saying thanks to the people who have been significant in your work life this year? Think about it – do your co-workers, interns, volunteers, bosses and support staff know they are important to you?

Do the key people in your network know that you think about them and are grateful?

It might be a great idea to say thank you this week – to let such folks know what they mean to you and how they have made a difference in your life. They will be reminded of you, that you don’t always approach them when you want something, that you are a person who knows that we accomplish very little on our own. (Furthermore, it’s a great career strategy, but that’s for another blog posting.)