Not THAT Old

To Recommend Or Not

One of the most awkward of situations is the request for a recommendation when you are not that enthusiastic about the person requesting.  How do you say no?

The direct approach is the most effective but we usually are a little squeamish about being so definitive.  Cases in which the individual has shown marginal skills, maturity and professionalism make saying no easier but what about those instances when the individual did his/her best and fell short of expectations?

Do you assess if the recommendation is about a specific job opportunity or a blanket recommendation?

I have been in both situations.

The first was a request for a website testimonial.  I said yes and my written recommendation was inserted into the site and no other testimonial was ever published.  Did no one else offer?  Did no one else experience a positive result with the person? Perhaps the individual thought one was enough.  I felt used for that recommendation.

The second recommendation request came from an individual wanting something similar as my first example.  She wanted a testimonial for her brochure.  I said yes with a caveat ... that I see how my recommendation was used BEFORE she went into publication.  That was the end of that request.  I didn't want to step on artistic toes but I also didn't want a repeat of feeling used.

The best recommendations I have given were those which I offered before any request.  If I am pleased and satisfied with someone's work, I will offer upfront.  No need to have an awkward moment.

It is definitely easier to give a recommendation when it is about a very specific type of work performed because of the level of detail that can be given.  Blanket recommendations leave the door open for creative interpretation.  Now, I site the exact type of work performed, how it was executed and the ease of working with the person.  Taking a very specific approach makes my decision on recommendation giving a lot simpler.

While You Are Looking for Employment

Looking for employment is a full time job.  You organize your day for contacts to make, networking events to attend, and researching companies and potential connections.  It can strap you to your chair, thoughts and attitude.

It can be difficult taking a break.  Moving to a different task.  Allowing you to function outside of your job search.

A perfect break is to get out and involved with community action.  You can LEAVE your home or temporary workspace and engage with new people, learn something new and, yes, meet potential employment.  Don't worry that you don't know anything about the non-profit world or community action group.  Learn, watch and listen.  You just might open a door to a new opportunity.

And, as someone more wise and knowing said to me, if you think about somebody or something other than yourself or situation, you will move to a place of action, more perceived control and self worth.

Join something today.  The organization probably needs someone just like you.

Up In The Air Not By Choice

If you have viewed the movie “Up in the Air” with George Clooney, you have some opinion of the topic … people hired to fire people from another company.  The art of firing someone clearly is a skill that George Clooney’s character has perfected.  He offers his suggestion that others who have been fired went on to greater work (or words to that effect).  In fact, the newly fired individual can now pursue their perfect work.  The work they would have done had money not been the root of the corporate job.

 

While of little solace to the recently fired, some people in the movie realized the honesty in his words.  Other characters spoke of betrayal, unfair and inhumane treatment by the employer, and an end to their world as they know it.  What if you were totally derailed from life in the cubical farm?

 

But what is a person to do when age is a factor, skills a factor and opportunity seemingly non-existent?  Are there always options?

 

Yes, there are options but we may not like them.  The biggest struggle is the perceived value of worth in the marketplace.  How can you possibly take a job for 1/3 of the pay you used to get for the same kind of work?  Or worse, at a position similar to one you had fresh out of college decades ago for less pay than you made then?

 

How do you separate the economics of today from the years of building a reputation, a skill set and an economic base?  The answer is you don’t.

 

The only reasonable answer appears to be: start your own business.  Great if you are entrepreneurial but what if you are a corporate citizen and loved it?  Can you transition the halls of the unknown and make it on your own?  Do you have the internal initiative to try something you haven’t done before?  My question is “What have you got to lose?”

Bon Voyage

 A good friend just announced that she had been released from her job with a prestigious financial concern after a twelve year run. She mentioned it with some regret and a boat load of relief.  Why would anyone be at peace with this kind of job loss? 

 It had ceased to be engaging and had turned sour for her.  There were many contributors to this situation but when it came down to it, she made too much money.

There are hundreds of newbies out there willing to take their shot and for half the price.  Makes business sense

But what does it mean for my friend?  A shot at something else.  Perhaps something completely different.  In the meantime, she's taking a cruise and sorting it all out when she returns.

The Ties That Promote

Marsha Finkelstein, the facilitator of the Moving Beyond career club in Salem, MA, always mentions being "generous" with others.  Being generous can mean sharing job opportunities, making connections for others, celebrating successful job searches, and offering hope when the plum job didn't materialize. Generosity enriches the relationships with the club members.  It also has a karmic ring of what you present to the world comes back to you.

When I think back in my career, there have always been people, work associates, bosses, educators who were my mentors whether they were named such or not.  These people were generous with their time, advice and encouragement.  They sometimes lit a path or provided a gentle push to press onward and fear not.

I now notice how I can be generous in ways to others and keep the spirit of my mentors alive and well.

Know Thyself

At a certain point in your life, you knew that you were firing on all cylinders, making it happen, riding the moment.  If you can recall a moment like this, what were you doing?  Revisit the moment, feel the pleasure, see yourself totally enthused, and hear what you are saying to yourself.  Really, get back into that moment in time and feel it all over again.  You are in perfect alignment with who you are.

And who is that person?  That "you" who feels so accomplished, acknowledged and accepted?

Did you get the recognition for something you did or a way of being?  Maybe it was a series of events, all positive, all leading up to a time of great output?  Your first "real" job, buying your first home, spending time with your family, excelling at sports.  It doesn't matter about the what.  It matters about your personal commitment, the level of engagement ... the fact that you probably did work hard to make it happen.

True, there are times when all things just seem to fall into place. And, under the rosy glow of "it all worked out", I am sure that elbow grease was involved at some points during the process.

So, what are you doing today to make your career feel like you are engaged, accomplished, acknowledged and accepted?  Could be a challenge especially if you are under employed or searching for employment.

If we predicate our value, what we bring to the employment search, on what others say or perceive, you are not giving yourself a fair shake.  Taking an assessment of your skills and talents can light up other possibilities that are similar ... not exact but are still within the same job and skill requirements.

What do you feel about your skills and talents?  What are you really good at?  What makes you happy when you are doing it?

I like doing puzzles, crosswords, sodoku ... you get the picture.  I enjoy problem solving. It comes as no surprise that most of my jobs have involved a "cleaning up" theme to them ... post implementation support, technical call center.  That person you call when things have not gone right.

Take a moment and discover the theme to your jobs and how does it relate to what you enjoy most.  You might be surprised what you learn about yourself.

Are You Flexible?

I just finished reading "Linchpin" by Seth Godin and one of the many remarkable comments he made was about gifts.  We feel obligated to give a gift if we receive one. And, more importantly, we feel as if we must give a  gift of equal value or more.  Somehow, we have adopted a "tit for tat" mentality where giving and receiving are concerned.  I think back to this past Christmas when family members traded gift cards worth $50 with each other.  We could have saved the energy.

In the ancient days, the tribal chief gave away things because he could.  His power as leader and chief came from his ability to give away gifts. Today, we have a notion that when we receive we must return in kind. 

Yesterday, I had coffee with a friend, a local artist and business woman and she bought me a divine cup of Costa Rican coffee and piece of cake.  She said she just wanted to do it.  I said thank you.

Having trouble finding a job? Marsha Finkelstein is starting another Moving Beyond Career Club with sessions beginning at the end of February.

It's a 10 week innovative and supportive group of jobseekers like you that meet weekly to help each other out. Based on the new initiative from Tory Johnson, the Career Guru on "Good Morning America", founder of Women for Hire and Waggleforce and author of the 2009 best seller "From Fired to Hired", this group is interactive, fun and productive.

Contact Marsha at (978) 219-9890 or movingbeyond@hotmail.com

Career Networking Opportunity - Salem, MA

One of the best ways to move forward with your job search and career are networking opportunities.  There's one coming up in Salem, Ma. Thursday, January 21'st at the Cornerstone Book store at 6:30 pm.

This networking event is sponsored by Moving Beyond Career Club . Check out the details. 

Let Me Introduce Myself

Towards the last few months of 2009, I began thinking about my life and how viable am I now that I am a lot closer to 60 years old.  By nature, I didn't really think about my age until I started to encounter what I perceived to be some ageism.  I don't like to think that I am being written off because of my age but I do believe that businesses are getting older folks off the ledger due to higher healthcare costs, salaries, and experience level.

So what's a person to do?  Heck, after the past recession years retirement is not an option, besides I do want to work and contribute.  But the signs are growing in intensity that age is a definite factor in hiring. The flip side to this is under-employment, the case in which the person is over qualified for the job and hired at a significantly lower salary with the expectation that past skills will be tapped into.  Ah, the ever helpful employee with vast arrays of experience at an entry level rate.

Competing with "new millennials" is ridiculous. They bring a fresh look to the scene. Without any practical experience, who guides the youth through the process of expanding horizons?

At this point in my career, I still want the excitement of a challenge. I want the satisfaction of creation, nurturing an idea and bringing it to fruition. Age doesn't seem to affect the output of writers, poets and politicians.

This blog is about rediscovering life's purpose for personal goals and value added experience.  Remember in the 1960's when the fear mongers said "Trust no one over 30". Today's mantra is more like "Grey Heads Are Invisible."  Are you invisible or are you very present?