Posted under Career Management on August 21st, 2007
I’ve been involved in the career business for a little while and I’ve encountered hundreds, probably thousands, of different scenarios relating to career transitions. And I’m usually prepared for just about anything and everything…so this was a surprise.
“John” arrived at my office 25 minutes late for his appointment. He’d called with a valid reason for lateness, though, which was better than his no-show a couple of weeks ago due to an emergency circumstance, so he said.
When we finally got together, my first query was “how can I help…what are your goals for our session today?” John indicated he “wanted a job” and he didn’t care what kind — as long as it was a good one with good benefits. I asked him if he’d like to continue in the same line of work. (He’s a well-trained, experienced professional). “I don’t care what line of work I do — I just want someone to hire me and pay my benefits.” “And I want you to do my resume so I can get the good job with the good benefits.”
Therein lies the gist of my post. How can you find a good job if you don’t know what job you want? How can you target a goal if you don’t have one? Why would you pay someone to revamp your resume when you have no idea what direction you’re headed? Why should an employer hire you if you have an “I’ll do anything, I just need a job with benefits” mentality?
To the best of my professional ability, I tried to convey to John that our time together would be much better spent getting some clarity, focus, goals, direction and purpose before he invested any money with me for a resume. Well, that was exactly what he did not want to hear. He grabbed his papers, headed out the door (slamming it), muttering “I’ll let ya’ know when I figure it out.”
I have been in John’s place before. And it’s a difficult place to be. I also know that nothing worked for me all those years ago until I absolutely stopped, and then started over, with a clean slate and with a different perspective about everything that I was doing, being, and thinking. What John said as he abruptly left my office was honest and real…and I hope, for his sake, he does take the time to figure it out. Step One.
posted by: billie sucher
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