Transitions2success

Welcome back. Last post I promised to tell you about some jobs that might not be in the want ads or online job lists. Statistics show that a majority of people don’t find their jobs in the paper or on the internet. (Sometimes I’ve been lucky and found some that way, but facts seem to show otherwise.)

How would you think most jobs are found? Surprise. Its more often by word of mouth or knowing somebody who knows somebody else. So, how do you go about finding out about them?

Well, after you have done an inventory of your interests and values (remember I told you I could help you with that?), and after you’ve settled on the type of career you want to pursue, and after you’ve updated your resume, its time to do some research. 

Who are the leaders in the industry or field you’re interested in? Look them up and make notes of names, titles, and addresses. Write letters to the top three or four of these people. What kind of letters? Tell them who you are and what you are interested in doing. Let them know you are not asking them for a position, but because of their expertise in their field, you would like to meet with them for their advice. Offer to take them to lunch or breakfast and let them know you will call on a specific day to arrange for lunch. (Make it about two or three days after they should have received the letter from you.) Be positive in your letter, but also be positive that you are not asking for a job.

What’s next? Check in for the next post, and we’ll talk some more. That’s enough for today. Leave me a comment and let me know if this is a new direction for you.

Blessings, Dr. Kary

Glad to have you back! What has been happening in your search for job success? Are you any closer to finding the job or career that fits you? Have you done your homework and decided where you might fit in all the career fields out there? Have you revamped your resume? How does it look now?

It is time to get serious. Over the next few posts, we’ll look at some alternative ways of finding your sucess. Do you know there are other ways of locating your best job than looking in the paper or the online sites? There are some “secrets” that might help.

The other thing is to consider  is whether you want a job at all. That’s a drastic thought isn’t it? Seriously, some people are finding their success in making the transition to working in an office to work from home. Have you considered it? Well, its worth taking a look and thinking what that would be like. You’ve heard about working from home in your “pajamas”, but would that be an option for you? It isn’t as easy as “they” make it sound. However, there are people who are doing it successfully.

What do you think? Is it something you might consider? Let’s talk about it. Leave me a comment and let me know what you need.

Blessings, Dr. Kary

Hi there,

Well, how’s the job search going? Any leads or likely suspects? I’m hoping that you not only find a job, but locate one that will be right for you. (Learning how to flip burgers isn’t the object!)

Some recent issues of Reader’s Digest featured information about careers and “jobs”. There are parts of it that were very interesting. They talked about “recession-proof” careers such as the fields of education, energy, the environment, financial services, healthcare, law enforcement, international business and technology. I would agree with most of that, although the field of financial services has come under fire lately!

In all the fields listed above, is there something that you have a passion for? For instance, it might not be teaching in the traditional sense, but a lot of teaching is now done on the internet. Did you realize that?

Maybe you’re smarter than I was a few years ago. I’ve had a “passion” for teaching since I was a kid (about a hundred years ago!).  However, when young, I didn’t have money to go to college. When I did go to college in my forties, I felt I couldn’t afford to take a semester to student teach. What a mistake! There are many different ways to be teaching. The traditional way, in a public school system, or college, can provide you the wonderful perks of pensions and benefits. Let’s not knock that. Since I’m now retired, I see how great it would be to have that pension.

On the other hand, teaching people over the internet would satisfy that passion and give the freedom and flexibility not possible in a traditional teaching setting. What about that? Give yourself a chance to dream about your perfect day or week. What would it look like? Who would you  choose to interact with? Are you a person who prefers to work alone and quietly? Or does activity, noise and lots of people interaction get you to humming?

Be sure to give yourself time to think about your values and preferences before you head in any direction toward a career. Don’t take the first thing that’s offered to you. It may look interesting at the moment, but will it be satisfying in the long run. Does it set you dreaming or dreading?

Next time, let’s talk about some options that will give you some “outside-the-box” thinking.

Blessings, Dr. Kary