Build a Better Career

Laid Off - Now What?

In the past few months, we've heard a lot about job loss. This morning’s headlines: “In February, 63,000 jobs were lost, the biggest job decline in 5 years.” Last night’s newscasts citing the same statistics. Candidates are talking about Ohio unemployment statistics. Alarming numbers! And numbers make news!

But I find that I can’t think in numbers; I think in “people.” I see faces.

For 18 years I’ve worked with people affected by layoffs. I’ve seen the faces…and heard the stories. Take John, who was an engineer with a very large company in the defense industry. John and I sat together the day he was notified that he would no longer have his job. John started out the conversation, as so many do, with a stoic stance. Holding back emotions, he listened to what I had to say about the transition program available to him and what support services we could offer in the career center. As I attempted to bring hope to the situation, I saw John looking at me as though he could not comprehend what I was saying. Finally, he interrupted me and looking into my eyes he said: “Rita, who is going to insure us? My wife is on dialysis.”

And then there was Richard who had been displaced when a major airline went bankrupt. He told me that he wasn’t worried. He could always get another job. He was a good machine mechanic. I remember wondering if he was as confident as he seemed. I hoped he was because I knew that genuine confidence is an asset in times of transition. So, we talked some more about new job possibilities and resume development. Richard left and I did not see him for a couple of weeks. When he returned, we sat in the conference room to review his activities. Suddenly, John interrupted the process and banged his fist on the table. “Rita, I have a family, two teen-age sons, and no health insurance. When I attempted to get a policy, I was told that I would need to pay 3 months dividends ($1500.00) up front. Where am I going to get $1500.00?” And, in case there is a part of you thinking that Richard should have had some resources, you need to know that when the company went bankrupt, his pay and benefits stopped immediately. He was at his job, happily employed one minute, and the next minute, he was going out the door, unemployed, with thousands of other workers.

And I see Ethel. Ethel, a petite woman, looking older than her 50 years, had worked her way up in a manufacturing company to a quality control inspector position. She had done this, in spite of little education, and she took pride in her accomplishment. However, when the plant closed, Ethel lost not only a job but her self-esteem as well. Unable to believe she was marketable, Ethel lost her home and savings. Last I knew, she was sleeping on a relative’s sofa.

So when I hear the “numbers,” I see the faces of John and Richard and Ethel and thousands of others that I have worked with over the years. What’s happening to all of the faces losing jobs today in a labor market pitifully lacking in new job opportunities? What happens to their lives? How do they survive? What is day-to-day living like for them? How has their job loss affected relationships with spouses, children, friends, former coworkers, and the community? Do you ever wonder? (to be continued)

The “In-between Job” – A Matter of Perspective

Recently a client asked me why the first job taken after a job loss often turns out to be an interim position. Bill (not his actual name) lost a job of 14 years and had been involved in a long search. Finally, a job offer came and Bill took it. However, very quickly, he realized that it was not a good fit. The organization was in transition, priorities kept changing, and he found himself unable to respond effectively. It was simply not a match for his skills, abilities and temperament. After several months, he was once again engaged in a job search.

I have found this short term employment experience to be a pretty common characteristic of a job transition. I call it the “in-between” job; the job that moves you forward but is not your destination. That it occurs is understandable. The transition process is an emotional rollercoaster. Between one job and the next there is uncertainty, vulnerability, self-doubt, and a feeling of not belonging anywhere. We worry about handling our responsibilities and doubt our marketability. When an offer comes, sometime our desire to get off the roller coaster is so strong that we push aside any doubts about the position, minimize the negatives, and accept the position gratefully.

I encouraged Bill to view the experience as not necessarily a bad thing. He may not have reached his destination but the “in-between” job had some essential benefits, such as emotional relief, a renewal of self-confidence, much needed financial resources and a breathing space. Assuming that perspective, Bill was able to move forward. He said that he noticed a new confidence in his ability to get another offer and a greater clarity about what would constitute a good fit.

What I’ve noticed is that the respite provided by the “in-between” job has the potential to result in renewed self-esteem; confidence in the ability to manage a successful search; and a greater clarity about career choices. On the other hand, it may reinforce self-doubt and discouragement. It is a matter of perspective. When Bill was able to see the benefits of the experience, he had renewed energy and hope. While that perspective did not completely eliminate the emotional ups and downs of the career search process, it did eliminate the roller coaster effect and did provide a smoother process with a clearer view of his destination.

Nobody wants to face beginning another job search after a few months. And no one wants to “fail” at the job. But, if the experience can be understood as a part of the transition process, and not as a sign of personal inadequacy, it becomes an opportunity to move forward with clarity and wisdom. Bill chose to do that and engaged in a very active job search campaign with renewed energy. Later…the rest of the story.

To do what you love and know that it matters, how could anything be more fun.
Katherine Graham

A Career by Default is No Career

Carol is an attorney. She did well in Law School and landed a job with a law firm practicing environmental law. It seemed to those who knew Carol that her career path was intact. She had set a course, followed it and successfully landed where she was supposed to land. So, why wasn’t Carol feeling a sense of accomplishment? Why wasn’t she eager to leave for work in the morning? What was keeping her awake at night?

Whenever Carol thought about her dilemma, a voice in her head would say “What’s the matter with you? You should be grateful. You’ve got a job that pays well, in the field you have chosen—what more do you want?” The voice seemed to “make sense.”

Carol’s self-talk went something like this: “I have successfully completed law school—no small thing—and now I’m a lawyer! I have the status that comes from that profession. My family is proud. And, in many ways, I am proud also. So, I just need to get on with it!”

And Carol does just that. She leaves for another day at the office, immerses herself in the busy and demanding schedule, and makes the best of things. When her discontent returns, she questions herself: “What’s wrong with me? I set a goal and achieved it. I made the decision to practice law and I am doing that. I just need to suck it up and do my job and be grateful for what I have!”

But, a nagging voice within persists. Some would say it comes from Carol’s heart. Others say her soul or her spirit. But whatever the source, I contend that it is wisdom based. As unsettling as it is, some part of Carol is longing to be acknowledged. But when it seeks recognition, Carol resists. And the intermittent waves of discontent continue.

Carol’s experience is not uncommon. It can happen in any career field, but, when a lawyer experiences this unsettling career dissonance, the inner conflict is extreme. Let’s look at what is at stake.

First, in any career field, when you have completed the necessary education, acquired the “sought-after” credentials and finally landed a position, there is great relief. .. a sense of “Whew! I made it!” And, now it’s a matter of learning how to do the work, fit in, and be successful. That’s the plan! And for a while, that’s your focus. You work hard to learn about the work environment, get to know people and to feel like you belong. Ah! Now maybe you can “coast” a little. It’s the time to start paying those student loans, getting together with friends, maybe finding better accommodations. Time to live!

But, if at some point a feeling of discontent surfaces, several things may happen. First. you may see it as an unwelcome intrusion and attempt to push it out of your head. You work harder. When it continues to intrude, and you consciously acknowledge that it is there, you may even feel ashamed. You question your value. You think there must be something wrong with YOU. Not the situation, but YOU. Although this is an irrational conclusion, it feels like the truth.

When the dissonance between what you think you should be experiencing and what you are actually living becomes too great, you may begin to think about exploring career options. That’s when fear arises

Let’s examine the assumptions that give rise to fear:

• There are few good alternatives for someone with my credentials and experience. Absolutely not true. A law degree qualifies you for many opportunities within the field of law and in other fields that require the high-level skills and abilities developed in law school and legal practice.
• If I change course, I cannot make the salary that I need/want. Not necessarily true. Many lawyers have made transitions that provided equal or greater compensation but this depends on a few variables. Research, then decide.
• I need to go into a different field to be happy, since I am not happy in law. There are many more options within the legal field than most realize.
• I have to relinquish all that I have invested and accomplished if I explore other options. Your accomplishments and expertise are transferable.
• If I begin to look at other options, I am making a commitment to leave my current job/field. The decision to research is not a decision to leave.

At some point in the ongoing inner conflict, people do one of two things:

1. They "settle." The result: a career by default - otherwise referred to as a job. The decision is often based upon a belief that there are no options. This does not necessarily lead to unhappiness. Many people find other ways to create satisfactory experiences outside of their work. But for some, it leads to depression, minimal performance and reduced self-confidence.
2. Those who choose not to settle begin a discovery process. As they continue to perform responsibly in their current jobs. They identify the source of their discontent. How do they do that? They begin with themselves, by Identifying their work preferences and life values, personality characteristics. How do these match the job? Where are the disconnects?

Law school is great preparation for the career discovery process because it is an education in research skills and, yet, lawyers do not find this an easy course of action. The professional status associated with being a lawyer is not easy to relinquish. And although career exploration does not automatically result in a change of profession, there may be a reluctance to even examine other options.

When the work fits the person, success follows. When the person tries to fit into the work, it’s like wearing a shoe that is too tight. You can walk in it, but you can’t enjoy the walk. When the job fits, it’s a beautiful trip. And there is nothing worth more than a job that makes you want to get out of bed in the morning and put on those shoes. Ultimately, it’s a matter of choice: a job by default or a career by selection.

If you are tempted to comment, please do. Your comments and questions will add value.

In support of your success,

Rita
Rita M. Carey, Ed.D.,CPCC
Professional Career Development Coaching

Email: [email protected]