Look for Good Fit and Experience

In Part II of my post, “How to Choose an ‘Emotional Pitstop’”, I discussed when a career coach might be the optimal choice to help you with a major career issue. But like me, you’ve probably seen a gazillion Web sites, books, etc. promoting “life coaches,” “executive coaches” and even “life career coaches” and it gets confusing. How do you know what to look for in a qualified career coach? What about licensing and/or certification?

To find out more, I talked to career coach and writer Julie Erickson, who identifies herself as a “career transformation coach.” In addition to coaching, Erickson writes extensively on career issues.

1.       I’m not exactly sure if I know what a career coach does?

“With a career coach, you have an ally in the work world. It can be difficult to work alone - as a business owner, a leader of a company or division - anywhere you aren’t free to openly share your concerns, worries, difficult decisions, dreams and hopes. A coach is your sounding board and thought partner, someone who you trust to help you navigate through the work challenges you face every day.”

2.       Should I look for someone with a good general knowledge-base or is it important that my coach understand my industry?

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Someone once told me that that there are 3 main elements to adult life, and you can never have them all simultaneously, at least not for any sustained period of time:

- Good Health
- Happy Home Life
- Work Satisfaction

I'd like to think that we would all be blessed with these three items.  After all, it doesn't seem like too much to ask! I'll take health and home happiness over work satisfaction any day of the week.  But I have recently been wondering if I'm jinxed.  Maybe you are too. 

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“The key to every man is his thought."  - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Truth be told, many office workers merely want credit for their concepts and hard work, but the reality is, pats on the back are on the verge of extinction.

Throughout my career, I've heard work colleagues gripe and vent on just about anything.  From the smelly office fridge to the woman in HR who doesn't wash her hands after using the restroom.  The grievances vary from job to job but there are some consistencies.  None more obvious than workers' desire to be acknowledged for their work ideas.

Workers simply want to hear, "It was your idea.  Thank you."

Not getting credit for concepts and solutions is unfair, but it's also a fact of office life.  With most people hiding behind the "forgetful" defense, claiming ownership is a difficult and awkward case to present.  That's why you need to let it go.  Here's why.

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Far too often I have seen employees' talents get underutilized in the workplace.  Sometimes it's the fault of a modest worker; other times it's an uninformed boss.  Since we are all experts at something, I believe it's important to tap into the skills of workers at all levels.  Hidden talent benefits no one.  The first step is to understand what each person is capable of.  On the audio file below I talk about a possible solution to bring workers skills to the forefront.

Direct Download

There's something I've hated since the third grade, yet I've found it trailing me like a bloodhound over the past two decades.  It's when a teacher hands out a syllabus or assignment and then preceeds to read the entire thing around.  This is not teaching.  This is not lecturing.  It is laziness.

This problem has seeped into many of the meetings I attend.  Workers prepare reports and then read them alond - word for word.  If we are having a meeting, isn't it fair to expect that we will verbally discuss and expand upon the information contained on the paper?  

These verbatim readers never see the attendees' eyes glazing over because they are too busy reading!

Reading aloud might be effective for my wife's second grade class, but in the businessworld, you are embarassing your staff and yourself.

Sorry for the rant.  If you want to vent about work, leave a comment below and be sure to check out the Jobacle Master Lists of Work Vent Websites.

Unless you earn a living as an emergency responder or snow-plow operator, there's no reason to report to work amidst a winter storm. Or, at least that's what logic and humanity seem to dictate. But who said cooler heads prevail at work?! Unfortunately for middle-of-the-ladder employees, we rarely get to see our bosses' "softer side." In the northeast, we have experienced some the worst snow conditions in 114 years--and even that didn't make employers change their rigid tune.

Missing work when it snows is serious business.

Read more from Andrew G.R. on "snowjobs" at U.S. News & World Report.

Finding Help for Major Career Issues

There are so many job issues facing us these days - threats of layoffs, no merit increases, toxic work environments or a bad job fit. But who is the best resource to consult for help when it’s more than you can handle? In Part I, I discussed using your personal support system (friends, family, parents and co-worker/friends). Today, I’m looking at the pros and cons of using a professional network, including your boss.

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Finding Help for Major Career Issues

I can only recall one job that had no inherent stress: I worked in a small card shop while in grad school. I read funny cards, rang up a few sales and had plenty of time to study. The majority of people experience some level of stress or difficult issue at work and it helps to have a supportive, sympathetic ear when you need to talk it through. But sometimes it’s hard to know who would be the best fit when discussing major career issues. Do you talk to your co-workers, boss, a psychotherapist, friends, family or parents, etc.? When does it make more sense to consult a career coach?

First, let’s look at the pros and cons of getting emotional support from the people in your personal life. (Co-workers fall in both personal and professional areas as they can also be good friends.)

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People are so wrapped up in finding job opportunities, that they often forget the importance of how to quit a job.   If you’re not using the final weeks, months, days and hours at a job to reinforce your passion and expertise, you are missing out on a golden personal branding opportunity. The people you work with today, from the newly minted intern to the curmudgeon in clerical, could be the lead to a new job tomorrow.

Work hard until the very last second

The reality is that people WILL talk about you after you leave a job. They’ll likely blame you for things that you had nothing to do with.  Imagine how nice it would be for someone to come to your aid, defending your honor, even after you’re gone.  It is possible!  Give people very little reason to bad mouth you.   Not only do you need to work hard and tie up all loose ends when you come to the end of the road at a gig, but you need to be your own cheerleader too. Make it known that you’re giving the job your all until the very end.  You’ll be amazed at how impressed people will be to find you still there at 5pm on your very last day.  Or how thrilled they’ll be when you leave them instructions on how to do something that only you handled.  Not only will it help you brand yourself in a positive light, but it’s also good career karma.

Do not bad mouth the employer you are leaving behind

It’s no secret that people like to be surrounded by positive and upbeat people.  Upon quitting a job people will instantly expect you to bite the hand that is no longer feeding you. It’s an easy trap to fall into, but an important one to avoid.

Read more of my post at PersonalBrandingBlog.com.

Remember that cool car Michael J. Fox drove in the movie, ‘Back to the Future’, that ultra-suave time machine that allowed him to not only look cool on screen, but also impact events in past and future? On Sunday, March 14 at 2 a.m., we’ll be wishing we looked that dapper. Daylight Saving Time has more of a bewildering effect on our organism than anything else. It is mini jet-lag at its best.

Every year it’s the same old story. We switch the clocks, blink bleary-eyed out the window, and wonder why it’s still dark outside. We battle with our own instincts to curl up into the fetal position for one more round of sleep.

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