Career Management Alliance Blog

As a career transition consultant, I am always intrigued by what clients share as their greatest roadblock, hurdle or difficulty in finding new employment; intrigued and interested because it serves as a place from which to move forward in our work together. While the challenges may vary, the issues are important to recognize and resolve. Otherwise, they can keep you stuck, hold you back, or get in the way of getting on with it. Here are some challenges and concerns I’ve heard time and again; sometimes they are also referred to as excuses. It doesn’t really matter what you label them…what matters is how you deal with them:

• I’m scared, afraid, embarrassed, ashamed, stressed about losing my job
• My attitude isn’t the best
• My resume is bad
• I hate my job but the money is good
• I’m distracted by other things instead of looking for work
• I’m uncomfortable talking about myself at the interview
• I don’t know what I’m doing; I feel out of control
• I posted my resume online and nothing happened
• No one is hiring right now; the economy is terrible
• I’m too old
• Recruiters don’t call me back
• My boss fired me and I’m afraid he’ll give me a bad reference
• I have some personal issues impacting my career
• Looking for a job is overwhelming
• I’m drawing unemployment so I’m not looking that hard
• I got a severance package so I’m taking a break
• I’m discouraged, depressed, disillusioned
• I’ve been a stay at home Dad / Mom
• I’m overqualified; I don’t have any experience
• I don’t have a college degree

As you read through each of these challenges, consider how you might think differently about that particular challenge or concern if you find it impacting your career search. What steps can you take to turn the negative into a positive to get yourself back on track? On a piece of paper, record the particular entry (or entries) you find yourself struggling with; beneath it, jot down some positive action steps you can take, starting today, to change things and get going again. For sure, it’s worth a try. Giddyup. Giddyap. Giddap!

posted by: billie sucher