Good morning: what risk will you take today?

We live in distinctly uncomfortable times. As a career counselor, I think/hear/worry/contemplate the job market on a daily basis. I cling to success stories (yes, I hear them) and am beginning to avoid the tragedies on the evening news because I don’t want to get overwhelmed.

Jobs, money, homes, retirement funds are at risk. If you seek comfort by pulling the blankets higher and retreating for the day, your fears will mount and your sense of helplessness will increase as well.

Here’s a thought: go out today and do something risky. No, obviously I do not advocate driving while under the influence, going without a coat in the cold, or taking the remainder of your savings and buying lottery tickets.

Good risk, however, gives you a good story at the end of the day. Here are some examples:

• meet the new neighbors,
• learn a new skill on the job,
  
• telephone someone you’ve lost touch with,
• pick up a different book at the library,
• express gratitude for something/someone you have taken for granted,
  
• clear out a bookshelf of things you will never need again,
• follow a new recipe for vegetable soup,
• speak with a co-worker you’ve never known very well,
  
• mail the package that has been sitting there staring at you reproachfully.

Does this get you a job? or secure the one you have?

No, I don’t think so. But these small steps clear out some cobwebs and allow new ideas to form. You can network in low-key ways that make people smile (including yourself).

The conclusion will be that your world will be a bit broader or cleaner or neater. Think of it as clearing the decks for the next stage.

What strategies do you have for brightening a day that might not look so promising in the morning?

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.

The spiritual side of career counseling

Do you think that career counseling is about assessment, decision-making, and strategy?

I think so. And that’s what I’m trained to do. Clients want/need help with one or more of these areas.

But is there more? Something that is not taught in graduate school courses? Creation, trust, individuality?

I think so. And many of you do, too.

Spiritual or religious counseling has gotten a scary reputation, often deservedly. Let me be clear about what it is not:

• persuading you to see it my way,
• embarrassing prayer sessions you don’t want,
• reminding you of the “shoulds” in your life, thus increasing your guilt load,
• being passive and letting God do the work,
  
• suggesting that I know more than you do about your life’s direction.

What I mean by spiritual career counseling starts by getting where you are. This may mean open discussion of your spiritual beliefs and support structure or your sense of your mission. Or it may mean not going there.

Where it fits, I’d like to share my experience of using my gifts as I see them. We might find common ground.

I find that people may be hungry to share their questions about the meaning of their lives and how best to use their unique talents. This is surely a spiritual question, but we may all be afraid to phrase it like that.

As a counselor, it is my task to perceive who wants to talk about mission and who does not. Either way, I’m fine with it.

Would you like to speak with me about your quest for a meaningful life and career? Please visit my website at www.anneheadley.com for contact information. Or you can leave a comment right here.