Love your job – it can save your life!

If you make a conscious effort to find out what it is you were meant to do in life, it can literally save your life!

Consider this: 70% - 80% of people work at jobs they hate. Unfortunately, this affects their happiness and personal relationships; ultimately, it can affect their health. Another really interesting statistic is that most heart attacks occur on Mondays during morning hours. While there are numerous factors involved, experts agree that job stress has an adverse effect on heart health.

As you can see, having a career that you love is REALLY important.

Recently, I had an interesting resume consultation with a client looking to update his resume. During our time together, he said something that completely resonated with me and that I could relate to as I have felt this way about past job positions that I have had. He told me that while he has had an impressive 25+-year career with progressive experience in his field, he really didn’t like his job. He wasn’t exactly sure about what he wanted to do, but wished he could do something else, preferably involving one of his major interests. He also explained that he felt like he was selling his time (and as a result his life) to his employer.

Is this the way you feel about your job? Do you feel like you’re selling your time and your life to your employer in return for a salary?

Now consider this –

How would your life change if you absolutely loved going to work each day?

–   Would you be happier?

–   Would you have less stress in your life?

–   Would you be more productive?

–   Would you be more successful?

If you’re unhappy at work and wish you loved your job, what can you do about it?

First, determine whether you hate the functions of the job or the environment in which you work.

Sometimes, it can be difficult to recognize what is the true core of your career challenge. You may feel you hate your job, but you don’t know exactly why. You need to diagnose the problem before you can take action.

Here are a few signs that you may want to consider making a career transition -  

• Do you hate what you do (the main tasks and responsibilities of the job)?
• Are you bored by your work?
• Do you feel as though time drags on at work and find yourself constantly checking the clock?

If you answered yes to any of the above, it may be time to find a new career that would be a better fit for you in terms of your personality type, interests, natural strengths, and career values.

However, if you love your work, but hate the environment in which you work – start an Internal Campaign.

Here’s what I mean - focus on changing your situation from the inside out and then create a plan for moving forward.

Gloria was contending with this type of situation. When she came to me for help she was at the end of her rope. As a mid-level manager, she was afraid she was going to lose her job, felt overwhelmed by all that she had to do on a daily basis and was upset by the criticism she received from her supervisors regarding her job performance. She wanted help with finding a new career direction to escape her current situation and explore her options.

As a result of our work, it became apparent that Gloria’s problem wasn’t that she needed to make a career change, but instead she needed to change the way she felt about her job then focus on improving her performance so that she could be a better manager and increase her productivity.

The first thing we addressed was how she viewed her situation. We pulled her out of “victim” mode where she felt trapped and believed she had little to no choice in her circumstances. By changing her perspective and seeing that she did indeed have control over her situation and numerous options, she was able to widen her viewpoint and identify where she could make proactive changes. We then worked on developing her leadership skills (e.g., managing others, increasing communication, effective time management, etc.) to improve her performance on the job.

I’m happy to report that Gloria has completely turned her situation around. She has become more confident and capable on the job. As a result, she received positive feedback from her supervisors and feels much more hopeful about her future. We are currently working on strategies for moving her up to the next level in her career progression.

How about you?

Are you ready to make an investment in yourself and in improving the quality of your life?

(And, by the way, it’s never too late to find a career that you can feel excited about and that energizes you.)

Your future is in your hands –

Don’t trade another minute of your life being paid to work at a job you hate!

Hot Career Trends for Today's Job Seeker

Q. Despite companies advertising that they do not discriminate they undoubtedly do. I am a career accounting/finance professional who just turned 62. I see positions I can do with my eyes closed not giving me the time of day. What does a tenured job seeker do to even get an interview?

A.Age discrimination in the workplace is a valid concern. In a past newsletter entitled How to Conquer Age Discrimination, I addressed this topic and provided solutions for finding a job in spite of age discrimination. However, I would be understating the issue if I didn't acknowledge that it may be challenging to secure the full-time position that you seek. Aside from age discrimination, there are a number of other reasons for finding it increasingly difficult for older workers to secure a full-time position - today's extremely competitive job market where there is a glut of applicants waiting in the wings for every advertised job opening including many younger workers willing to take a lower salary. Then there's the globalization of today's economy where many jobs are shipped out to other countries that provide cheaper labor and reduce the number of available jobs, and of course the uncertainty caused by our evolving healthcare system which has caused many companies to cut back on hiring.

It seems like a no-win situation for job seekers over 50. However, if you're familiar with my philosophy as a career coach, you know that I believe there is always a solution to our challenges; the solution just may not be exactly what you would want it to be!

Here are a few solutions that are a bit "outside of the box" for older workers to consider - however, these strategies can be used by anyone who is having difficulty securing a full-time position in today's job market:

1)    Increase your competitive edge in the job market -

Become an expert in an area of your field in which few people have developed expertise then develop and market that as your personal brand. For example, I had a client who worked as an underwriter in marine insurance specializing in insurance for container terminals. There weren't many people who had his specialized knowledge so he was fortunate enough to have jobs come to him instead of the other way around. You can figure this out by doing some research into the highly sought after top performers in your field. Consider what background, experience, or knowledge makes them in high demand - then see if you can acquire some of their expertise.

2)    Consider Contract Staffing -

In times of economic downturn, contract staffing surges. While this solution might seem like contract employees are getting the short end of the stick as these positions do not offer benefits, stability or long-term security, contract work does offer some advantages as estimates reveal that 38% of contractors convert to full time work.

In addition, contract staffing: 

• Provides a means for keeping your work skills current.
• Pays more; about 20% more on average.
• Provides the opportunity to get experience in new business areas or technology.
• Is a way to get your foot in the door of a company that wouldn't consider you otherwise.
• Provides a great networking opportunity. 

And - 90% - 95% of U.S. companies use or have used contract staffing.

FYI, the most common contract staffing positions are in IT, Life Sciences (pharma, healthcare), Accounting & Finance, Administrative/clerical, Engineering, and Legal/Paralegal.

3)    Create your own Portfolio Career -

A portfolio career may be a term that is new to you but it's a hot new trend in careers that is becoming increasingly popular in response to the stagnant job market.

Portfolio Career: -

Having two or more jobs (or projects) working for different employers or mixing traditional employment with self-employment.

Portfolio careers differ from the traditional single track careers that we have become accustomed to striving for and trained to believe is the only option to consider; however, the world of work has changed! Designing a portfolio career is a way to create multiple streams of income so that you don't have to be dependent on one. It provides you with more flexibility and the opportunity to pursue multiple interests, and to create more fun and enjoyment in your career. It is the ultimate "empowered" career.

Keep in mind the various jobs may relate and use the same skill set you possess or they may be completely different and unrelated.

Here are 2 real-life examples:

Trish works 3 days per week as a software developer for a company in NYC. During the rest of the week she works as a fitness instructor teaching pilates and weight lifting classes. In addition, she works one-on-one with private clients.

John is a college professor who teaches business classes at a university. He also earns income from speaking engagements and consulting work with corporations.

Here are a few benefits to creating a portfolio career: 

• The opportunity to use different skills and incorporate various interests into your work.
• An alternative way to earn income in the event you lose your job.
• Flexibility to create your own schedule.
• The chance to build skills that may not otherwise be available to you.

Contact Career Advancement Coaching if you need help implementing any of the above strategies.

How to Make Lasting Positive Change in 2014

January is a great time to stand back and take stock of your life to see how you can make some positive changes. It's a common theme you will hear as most people are motivated to take action at this time of year. The ironic thing is that New Year's resolutions are usually forgotten by February  - probably because the resolution was more of a wish than a goal. 

If you really want to make significant change in your life, the key to accomplishing resolutions is to begin by making sure that you have a burning desire to accomplish your resolution and a commitment to seeing the process through to making your goals a reality.

"Your ability to discipline yourself to set clear goals for yourself and then to work toward them every day will do more to guarantee your success than any other single factor."

- Brian Tracy

Decide what you really want -

Before setting goals, you may want to ponder a few questions in order to gain clarity about what it is that you really want to accomplish:

• What is currently working in my life?
• What is not working?
• What do I really want to change and improve?
• How will my life change once I accomplish my goal(s)?

Create a SMART goal -

Some brilliant person in the business management world created the SMART goal acronym years ago - it's a great tool that will help you to focus and follow through on your goals:

S - Specific - What is your goal? What do you really want?

Spell out the target you are aiming for very precisely and be sure to write it down.

M - Measurable - How will you know when you've done it?

State your goal in such a way that you can measure exactly when you have arrived as well as how far along you are at any specific moment.

A - Achievable - Is it physically possible to accomplish your goal within whatever limits you must consider?

R - Reasonable - Do you have the time, resources, etc. to accomplish your goal? Can it be accomplished within the specified time and with the resources you have available?

T - Time Oriented - By when will you reach this goal?

The most important steps to take are to decide exactly what you want, write it down, and then set a deadline to reach your goal.

Take small steps consistently to see results -

In one of my favorite books, "What Happy People Know,"psychologist Dan Baker points out that if you truly want to be happy in your life, you need to work on the following three areas of your life on a daily basis: your health, relationships, and career.

The typical New Year's Resolution usually involves goals around losing weight or making more money. However, if you truly want to improve your life and make lasting positive change, the easiest way to do so is to simply do small things consistently in these three areas on a daily basis  - that will make the most significant impact on your life in the long run.

For example, to improve your health you may decide to get a minimum of 7 hours of sleep every night, eat more wholesome, healthy foods, avoid processed foods, and take a 30- minute walk daily. Voila! Better health!

To improve your relationships, you may decide to spend more time with loved ones (and to be fully present when you do), improve communication with others by listening intently, and to expand your networks by looking for opportunities to connect with others.

And, if you want to improve your career -

The best advice would be to find work that you love. As Dr. Baker states in his book:

"Loving your job is the ultimate freedom. It means, in effect, that you never have to work - you just play hard and collect your check. You can't beat that for leisure."

A final word -

If you really want to achieve anything worthwhile by the end of the year, the perfect time to start is NOW. 

What to do if you’re in a toxic work environment

Q. I am a senior executive and recently changed jobs because the company I had worked for was going through major downsizing. Like many others in a similar situation, I was afraid my position would be eliminated. I had found out about a position from a colleague and while it was a lateral move for me, my job functions and responsibilities changed from my last position. While I am not thrilled with my new daily job tasks I thought I would give it a try but at the end of the day chose to take the job for the sake of job security. The real problem with the new position is that not long after taking the job I realized that I am in a toxic work environment and bad corporate culture. My boss is very difficult to work for as he is a micro manager and I feel as though my work goes unrecognized and unrewarded. Also, there is virtually no open communication among team members within my department. I hesitate to change jobs at this point since it would not look good on my resume and would be difficult to explain without casting some negative suspicions on myself when looking for a new job. I am experiencing a great deal of stress and dread going to work each day. What should I do?

A. Sometimes we can find ourselves in situations that are difficult to cope with which can make us feel as if we are trapped and don’t have any choice in the matter. The truth is we always have a choice. The key to gaining control of the situation and feeling empowered is to focus on finding a solution rather than on the problem. Shifting your mindset will help you to adopt a positive attitude and feel better about your situation which in turn, will lessen your stress. It also helps to think about what you can learn from this situation. One lesson learned could be making sure that you get more information about a new work environment before accepting a job offer in the future.

There are three separate courses of action that you can take:

1)     You can change jobs or bosses within your company by moving into another department working for someone who would be a better fit for you (after doing your research!).

2)     You can attempt to change your boss’ mind or to change the dysfunctional organizational culture for the better.

3)     Or you can cut your losses and go to work for a different company that better recognizes your talents and skills.

While it is possible, trying to change the corporate culture would be very difficult to do and may work against you in the long run as your productivity will be affected and your reputation for being a valuable worker could suffer. Unless you have a lot personally invested in staying where you are, the time and energy investment required of you may not be worth it.

If you should choose to look for a new job, you have a great reason for making a move to a new company. You can explain to prospective employers that you thought you wanted change jobs and perform different job functions, but once you actually worked at the job, you realized it was not a good fit for you. Ultimately, you prefer to work at a job that you love as you know that would make an impact on your job performance in the long run and the contribution you would make to the company.

There are 3 types of people: winners, losers, and…

I heard Les Brown, the famous motivational speak say this –

There are 3 types of people, winners, losers, and people who haven’t discovered how to win.

If you’ve been looking for a job for a long time without success, you might be tempted to think of yourself as a loser at the job search game, but the fact is that you aren’t; you just have to figure out how to win the game.

In my last post I talked about how listening to the “bad” news about the employment outlook can discourage job seekers so much that many have given up and abandoned their efforts to find a job; they believe that there just aren’t any jobs out there. This negative thinking that will set you up for failure and sabotage your efforts. The truth is that there are many jobs out there; you just have to use the best methods for finding them.

A number of years ago, I worked with a woman named Susan who had been out of work for more than a year. Susan was in her early 50’s, the victim of downsizing, and looking for a job as an office manager. By the time she came to me to write her resume and give her job search pointers, she was desperate and willing to take a lower level job.

As I recommended, she did her best to use multiple methods for finding a job. In addition to using traditional methods (responding to advertised positions), she also focused on networking and directly contacting companies.

There was a small restaurant she frequented while searching for a job in NYC where Susan became friends with the waitress who worked there. The waitress told her that she heard that there was a job opening in the company across the street for a property manager. While Susan didn’t have direct experience with property management, she knew she was capable and would be able to do the job. Thanks to the waitress, she was able to set up an interview with the prospective employer.  When he expressed doubt about her ability to be a property manager since she had no prior experience, Susan offered to work without pay for two weeks to prove that she could do the work. She did such a great job that she was hired and paid for the two weeks she worked.

The moral of this true story is:

Never give up.

Believe it’s possible and that opportunities will come your way because you never know where your next job will come from!