Career Planning. It’s Starts Earlier Than You Think
Posted on July 30, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
I’m a planner by nature, it’s just the way I am. I like to have things mapped out, drives my wife nuts. But I find it helps me accomplish my goals. Career planning on the other hand is a little more elusive, but I’m working on it. Like most of you, it hasn’t always been something I spent enough time on. I know weird. But in reality career planning should be a constant and ongoing endeavor for all of us and for today’s young professionals this is crucially important. It’s a total cliche, but all too true that ‘people don’t plan to fail, they fail to plan’.
Most experts are saying that the twentysomethings or Gen Y will likely have 4-5 different careers in their lifetime. Career planning will be a constant in their lives, hopefully they started a long time ago.
This week my son Chad started high school, still not sure how that happened. With high school now under way so has his career planning. That’s because starting in high school, everything counts. The grades, the activities, the other programs, they all go on the college application; the first resume. For Chad, I began coaching him on his career four years ago. I know crazy, but bear with me. Chad struggled with reading in fifth grade, along with his teacher, we took steps to help him get back on track. The next year, Chad made huge strides academically making straight ‘A’s most of the year. I saw the light in his eyes as he excelled in school. He began to believe in himself, he knew he could do anything.
Over the last few years Chad has consistently done well and has continually challenged himself. For my part I’ve encouraged him to do his best, congratulated him when he was successful and helped him re-group when he wasn’t. We also began talking about the future. College, careers, etc. Chad, like many boys is money motivated and wants the best things in life. We’ve tried to teach him two things; one, there’s more to life than money and two, that keeping doors open will allow him options in the future both personally and professionally. He knows if he does well the next four years, that he will have almost unlimited options, he can go to any school he wants and that he’ll be able to achieve the type of success he desires.
To motivate him over the next four years, this wee I bought him a Harvard T-shirt, which I plan to mount on his wall. I purposely ordered it several sizes too big, but in four years it should be just right. Now it’s not that I expect him to go to Harvard, that decision will be his alone, but rather that I want him to see that shirt when he wakes up everyday and remember why he’s working so hard. And most importantly to be reminded that he can do anything. Eventually career planning will fall on his shoulders, my role as coach will diminish, hopefully I will have given him the tools he’ll need to be success in all aspects of life.
So what does all this have to do with career planning? Everything. Career planning should start early and it never really ends. In reality career planning is life planning. To neglect it means to wander through life and miss out on some of the best it has to offer. What we sometimes fail to see is that everything is intertwined; family, career, finances it all goes hand in hand. From career to family, to finances failing to plan is planning to fail.
Until next time…
Leave a CommentTravel Diary -St Louis
Posted on July 28, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized | 1 Comment
Alright, dust off the suitcase, pick out a paperback, we’re on the road this week, heading to the Gateway to the West; St Louis. I’ve been to St Louis a few times and normally I wouldn’t be all that enthused about it, but with temps in Phoenix this week hanging around 115, suddenly a little mid-west hospitality sounds about right. High temps in St Louis are supposed to be in the mid 80’s. Sure it might be humid, but vs dry and scorching, I’ll take it.
After not traveling for a while the packing went surprisingly smooth, after all these years, I think I could do it my sleep, and probably have. With light traffic and no line at security I made it to the gate with ample time for a Starbucks stop. So far, so good.
Southwest -when you fly Southwest, you know several things going in; 1. you want to be in the ‘A’ boarding group. Southwest has turned it into their version of First Class. Thankfully with Business Select tickets, it’s automatic, 2. you desperately are hoping against a full flight, and 3. you’d better eat before your flight or bring something with you because outside of crackers and peanuts, you’ll get nothing and like it from the flight attendants, although they tend to be a friendly bunch. So with my A3 boarding pass, I pick out a window seat and wait patiently. I get my row-mate on the aisle, we continue to hold our collective breath. Just as the doors close and I figure our middle seat will stay empty…surprise an old guy shows up in our row from the back of the plane. The back of the plane? Wtf? While he wasn’t a fat old guy or smelly, he was that old guy who insisted on riding the armrest and making sure we touched as much as possible during the three hour flight…Great!
A little Mid-west flavor - With a short ride to the hotel, I had time to take in a little local scenery, here’s a sampling:
- Billboard featuring a terrified looking boyscout type with the following caption: ‘I promise not to move firewood’. -No idea what that means
- Billboard featuring creepy looking middle aged man with the following caption: ‘Wanted for sexual crimes Bruse Swifford’. I guess this is common in St Louis?
- Local talk radio show with a rigorous debate on favorite childhood snacks. Here’s a partial list:
- Saltines soaked in milk, and eaten with a spoon. -Yes, evidently they eat this here.
- Bread with butter and jelly- Um…OK, but why not add some peanut butter?
- Something with Chilli and peanut butter. See above only reverse.
All this wrapped up with a discussion of what ‘Chilli con carne’ was. The consensus being that it meant it had macaroni in it. I’m so not kidding here. Evidently Spanish is all that common, but doesn’t anyone watch Dora the Explorer?
So there you have it. I’m now tucked into my cozy room here at the Hilton debating room service or explore the great unknown. It’s a too-up, but I think I’m going exploring. Wish me luck.
Until next time…
Wanted for sexual crimes Bruse Swifford w/pic
‘I used to eat saltines in a coffee cup when I couldn’t sleep’
1 CommentOld Dogs Learning New Career Tricks
Posted on July 22, 2009
Filed Under Uncategorized | Leave a Comment
By now it should be news to no one that the job market for older workers is especially tough. If new graduates face the toughest job market in decades, multiply that by ten for older workers. But older workers aren’t going quietly into that good night. They’re fighting back and using some of the same tools that their younger counterparts have been using for years. From resume tinkering to social media, to plastic surgery, older workers are pulling out all the stops.
The biggest challenge most older workers face is primarily one of perception. Employers look at them and while they love the experience they bring, they’re leery that older workers will command higher salaries or be less likely to stay should a better offer come along and perhaps they’re right. So what do more experienced workers do to combat this? For starters many are giving their resume an overall to make themselves appear younger. First to go are college and post degree education dates. Next older work experience is cut, leaving a 7-10 year window of experience. One that will get them an interview, but not overwhelm an employer or scream ‘I’m old and need a job and I’m expensive!’. Finally, still others are turning to plastic surgery. With it’s economic accessibility, Botox has become a real option of older workers trying to present themselves in a younger light. And of course tried and true techniques such are hair coloring and younger wardrobes are popular as well.
Beyond physical appearance, the avenues used to find employment are changing as well. The older set is embracing social media and networking in a big way. From Gmail to Facebook to LinkedIn, if it’s hip or even close to the cutting edge many workers pulling out all the stops in their job seeker makeover.
So as great as all this, what it says about our experienced workers and the employers who would hire them is unsettling, but not surprising. As I’ve said for some time now, employers care about one thing; the bottom line. Fact is hiring younger and less experienced talent, while risky, is the direction corportate America is heading. Yes, to a point it’s age discrimination, yes, it’s risky to put non-experienced workers in situations that they aren’t prepared for, but as the saying goes ‘you can’t fight city hall’, or it appears corporate America. So stop trying to beat ‘em and join ‘em. Overhaul your resume, overhaul your look, and more than anything network your butt off and stay agressive. Looking for more help? I know some people who are ready and able, click here to learn more.
Until next time…
Leave a Comment
