Lessons from Darwin

In the midst of the current downturn, there is a cause for celebration in academic circles: Scientists and historians are raising a glass to the 200th birthday of Charles Darwin, the evolutionary biologist who brought the concept of "survival of the fittest" into popular culture.

As companies and countries across the globe struggle to find their economic footing, the commemoration feels like a strange reality tv show event to me: Will the outcome of this current market be a changed job market in which only the strongest and most compelling candidates can survive?

In this market, does the process of self-assessment and "finding your fit" fall by the wayside: Does necessity trump career exploration? Is it best to take a job--any job--that comes your way? I don't think so.

I'm no evolutionary biologist by training, but it seems to me that you are more likely to survive in any given position if it allows you to play your natural strengths. Career exploration--and knowing what you do well is a key component of any job search. So is having a great mentor.

Want proof? Take a look at how Darwin's career evolved: before he became known for his groundbreaking research on the H.M.S. Beagle, he made attempts at medical school and studied to become a minister.

How are you positioning yourself to survive the downturn? Will you involve others in your search process? Or will you go it alone? Is your current approach working for you?

Let me know if I can help.

To your success,
Chandlee

(I learned of Darwin's experience through my former supervisor, Patricia Rose, Director of Career Services at University of Pennsylvania, who has been a mentor to me and countless students and employees. Thanks, Pat!)

On Asking for Help and Recovering from Falls

It was a cold rainy day today--I'd say it was rather miserable.

This morning, I watched a woman in my neighborhood trip and have a full-on fall in the middle of the sidewalk. She chipped her front tooth, cut her lip, bruised her hands and knees, and couldn't get up for over ten minutes.

Five passerby (myself included) stopped, helped her call for help and waited with her until it arrived. Shortly after the accident, we went into triage mode: My friend called an ambulance, three others worked to assess the situation and reassure her, and I tried to get help from the drugstore next door, but as it wasn't "on the property"--no help.

The immediate reaction of the woman was to cry. Then, she took a deep breath, and shared with us her current needs, medical history, and feeling of unsteadiness from the fall. We talked and got to know each other as we waited until help arrived.

As a transplant to New York, I walked away feeling both annoyed (at the drugstore) and with a sense of appreciation (for fellow neighbors and passerby). Not surprisingly, given my line of work--it reminded me of the job search:

Like the drugstore, sometimes the places you expect to find help aren't particularly useful. (Ever applied for a job at a place you felt great about only to never hear again?)

Like a sudden fall, a turbulent change in job security can result in the most primal of reactions: aaccckkk!

And sometimes, help arrives in the most unexpected form when you figure out how to ask for it clearly...and can be specific about what you need.

Think you have no network? Explore LinkedIn and attend events in your community that align with your interests. Find anyone with common interests, follow-up, and make a new friend...

To your success,
Chandlee

When "Yes, We Can" Comes Before "Yes, I Can"

Democratic strategist and pundit James Carville speaks his mind, and what he says is frequently Train challenged by others. (Did I mention he's married to Republican strategist Mary Matalin?) But I think few will disagree with Carville's opinion on 2008:

You know, people will insist that 2008 had 366 days. I don't believe it. I think it had 36,066 days. It certainly felt much longer than any year that I've ever experienced.


I couldn't agree more. I live in Manhattan where my work as career coach and resume writer includes serving as a volunteer facilitator for a MeetUp.com group of job seekers. Our members range in age from 18 to 70 and include college students, mid-career executives, and seasoned professionals. I've gotten to know and enjoy many of them personally and as the economy has tightened, a collective sense of hope has become increasingly important.

No one wishes for a plane crash, but I think last week's "Miracle in the Hudson River" gave people a dose of optimism which continued through Martin Luther King day. Supporters of the new Obama administration also have it in today's Inauguration. After all, the first definition of inaugurate is "to make a formal beginning of; initiate; commence; begin."

After a year that felt like 36,066 days, a sense of hope and the prospect of a new beginning is both popular and contagious. For many, it puts the swing back into the step. Our MeetUp group met last night and the collective mood was more upbeat than in recent weeks.

But it doesn't work for everyone. I've talked to many job seekers who've said that their New Year's resolutions for the job search are hard to keep. As news of new layoffs and hiring freezes continue, individual momentum can be difficult to maintain. As one of my group members said to me recently, "If I make it outside, it's a good day. It's just hard too keep going."

My advice in these situations? Borrow from the Obama campaign and try "Yes, We Can" before telling yourself "Yes, I Can." Join a group or band together with friends to accomplish your goals. There is a reason why Weight Watchers, Team in Training, and the Biggest Loser often work for weight loss and improved fitness: there is proven strength in working with a community to effect personal change. It works better than trying it on your own.

I share this advice courtesy of one of my favorite authors, Gordon Livingston. A Psychiatrist, Dr. Livingston has experienced an unusual amount of personal pain in his life: He lost two children, one to leukemia and one to suicide. He writes about how he lived through the experience and shares additional lessons learned in Vietnam and through his work with clients in his practice. One of his nuggets of wisdom: Feelings follow behavior.

In other words, if you're feeling down, don't bank on waking up one morning and feeling better all on your own--get moving now! This is why I recommend joining a group and even "faking" enthusiasm if you have too in the short-term. (You can--and should be--honest with yourself and examine the emotions behind your feelings, as part of the process.) In the short-term, you may find that the act of saying, "Yes, We Can" now lead you to say "Yes, I Can" sooner than you think.

Let me know if this works for you, and if I can help you get unstuck.

To your success,

Chandlee

Feeling Stuck? 3 Quick Ways to Make Your Search Move Again

One of the interesting things about the work that I do is the cyclical nature of job seeking: September and January are traditionally the busiest months as it is "back to work" for students and professionals alike.

That being said, job hunting can be like New Year's Resolutions: it is frequently easy to set ambitious goals and can be difficult to keep them--especially when shrinking budgets and hiring freezes may require you to do more instead of less.

If you're feeling stuck, consider leaning on someone else to pull yourself out of it. (I once read that one factor behind the high failure rate of resolutions was the fact that a majority of common self-improvement efforts are often done in relative solitude--i.e. weight loss, personal finance management, and even applying for new jobs.) As it is often easier to achieve success with the help of others, here are three of my favorite resources:

1. Authentic Happiness
This website by the University of Pennsylvania's Center for Positive Psychology provides many tools and resources for "bad mood busting." I particularly recommend the VIA Signature Strengths Finder.

2. How to Find a Community of Job Seekers

This 2 part series from my colleague and friend Miriam Salpeter at Keppie Careers includes a mention of the Manhattan based Job Seekers group I run through MeetUp.com. (sign-up for additional information on programs and events if you like.)

3. Ask for Advice or Suggestions from someone who has been there before. Here's a recent Penelope Trunk post on "How to Generate a Useful E-mail Response."

I also like management consultant Dan Erwin's suggestions on "How to Ask for Advice and Not Look Like a Dumb***" (Our opinions on word choice for titles differ--I'm more of a prude for public writing--but his advice is spot-on.)

Do you have additional suggestions on how to self-motivate during a job search? If yes, please share.

A Late Bloomer Learns How to Make a New Year's Resolution

Recently, author Stephen Shapiro shared some surprising findings on New Year's Resolutions:

It appears that the younger you are, the more likely you are to achieve your resolutions.

39% of those in their twenties achieve their resolutions every year or every other year.

Less than 15% of those over 50 achieve their resolutions every year or every other year.

If you clicked through to read Shapiro's extended findings and you aren't in your 20's, and you saw the statistic that only about 8% of those who make resolutions consistently achieve them--do not give up on a big goal.

Pick up the phone or turn to your partner and enlist their encouragement. You are much more likely to achieve your goals if you share them--and set them in tandem with someone else. This is how Weight Watchers stays in business.

I share this advice with confidence and conviction. I have tried and failed to achieve resolutions in the past, but this year was a watershed moment: I've found personal success using the collaborative approach.

Prior to 2008, I had unfulfilled dreams of writing about careers in a public forum, but I was stuck in an inner battle between my social self and my quiet self. I love to write but the process is--conventionally--a solitary task. I enjoying reading, but I am happiest when I am making connections with others. I found myself talking a lot about writing but not actually doing it. In 2009, I actually did it. Consistently.

I could tell you that my success is a result of a change in my self discipline, or a testament to my drive and motivation. But I can't lie: Like many who achieve their goals later in life, my success is "highly contingent on the efforts of others." In a New Yorker essay exploring economist David Galenson's research on the differences between child prodigies and those who achieve success later in life, Malcolm Gladwell calls this the "final lesson of the late bloomer."

Consider the career of Cezanne. As Gladwell tells it, he was supported by his father for years, had his first show at 56 and once had a friend sit for a portrait over 150 times--before he decided to abandon the painting. (Now that's a friend!)

It was others who helped me put words to paper. First I discovered Twitter, and a new community of interesting people who provide me with ideas on what to write about--and who serve as role models on how to write. I also gained not one, but two new mentors who have consistently encouraged me. I made friends with several other emerging writers and took a short course. I sent drafts to friends and family. I learned to take small steps, to use a formula to break writer's block, and to publish the imperfect.

As I look back on what I've written this year, I am grateful for the support that I've received from my friends and family. They have my gratitude and my thanks, and I appreciate their patience. As Gladwell says, "Prodigies are easy. They advertise their genius from the get-go. Late bloomers are hard. They require forbearance and blind faith."

If you have a dream that you can't quite give up on--and haven't managed to achieve just yet, find a friend or mentor who will encourage you with blind faith--and challenge you to be accountable for making it happen. Let me know how it turns out...and good luck!

Three Places to Spot Job Leads

With all the "gloom and doom" in the headlines, it's easy to think every corner of the U.S. job market--from Main Street to Wall Street--has been negatively affected by this economy. But, that's not quite true. This morning, the local paper in my hometown of Columbia, South Carolina featured stories of two potential "winners" who expect to see positive growth: Kohls and Delta Airlines (post-merger).

If you're feeling frustrated, here are three sites to look at:

1. Linkup.com
LinkUp is an aggregator of position listings from company websites. It's a great place to find out about opportunities that might not be interested on other job boards. (In my former life as a recruiter, I paid to post positions on Monster.com--it's not cheap!)

Many thanks to GL Hoffman, author of the blog What Would Dad Say and recently published book, Dig Your Job, for this lead.

2. Jiibe

I learned about this Canadian gem when Greg Scott, company founder, began following me on Twitter. Here is a description of the site--straight from the corporate website:

Jiibe is a user-powered online service that helps people make better decisions for a happier life.

First we help you understand what sort of workplace you need to be happy.

Then we point you to companies that match based on the real-life experiences of other members.

I look forward to learning more about the site, but in the interim--sounds worth checking out!

3. PastRecessions.com

As you might guess from the name of my blog, my favorite word is context. PastRecessions.com provides information on past recessions, and is a good reminder that the economy has suffered downturns--and recovered in the past as well. Resist the temptation to personalize the economy--mass layoffs and hiring freezes at some companies does not equal no opportunities elsewhere (or that you won't be hired by a particular company at a later date).

Keep the faith, and please share your successes!

Making Decision 2008 Personal

Today, I am participating in Job Action Day, a pre-election event hosted by QuintCareers.com. The purpose of the event is a "call to action" for job seekers by sharing resources written and recommended by career experts.

You can read about the event--and see tips provided--here:

http://www.quintcareers.com/attacking_job_market.html

I once read some intriguing statistics on the correlation between self improvement initiatives and personal happiness. According to the data, Americans often take on self-improvement projects in order to feel better about themselves and to feel less isolated from others. The challenge: many self-improvement projects are often done independently and without the support of others. As a result, it can be easier to give up on your cause and to feel even lonelier. Having team support is one reason why programs such as Weight Watchers, Team in Training, and Boot Camp Classes at the gym tend to have higher success rates than going it alone...

For these reasons, I challenge you to find an accountability partner to pair up with during the course of your own job search--or join in a national effort like Job Action Day. Working with others can help you stay motivated--and help you feel more connected in the process as you make Job Action Day transition into Job Action Month!

Contact me and let me know what you've done and how you've seen progress. Any strategies you recommend or don't recommend for other job seekers?

To your success,
Chandlee

On the Secret Ingredient to Career Sustainability

Yesterday, I attended "Branding for Sustainability," a conference examining environmental sustainability initiatives at the corporate level. The program included collective brainstorming on a common question: Given that sustainable initiatives often cost more at the outset and involve rethinking relationships, how can individual employees build support for change within an organization?

While environmental issues were the theme for the day, the recent volatility on Wall Street did not go unnoticed. Here are two take-aways that are equally applicable to both the issues of "environmental sustainability" and "career sustainability":

1. Pain drives change, but passion is a better long-term recipe for success. Just as many companies have been prompted to change their conservation practices based on rising fuel costs, your job search may be fueled by external factors--or by your discontent.

Within this environment, making a career change suddenly may stop the pain. That being said, if you haven't had time to reflect on why you are making the change: if you are not passionate or genuinely interested in your new line of work, you may not like your new job, either.

2. We get by with a little help from our friends. At the conference, several of the organizers mentioned the importance of building support for sustainability initiatives by working with colleagues horizontally---i.e. from your friends and colleagues, rather than starting with the c-suite.

Given that it's not always "easy being green," this strategy to build horizontal strength can help you both in terms of your ability to advocate for change and also in terms of your own career success. After all, support from colleagues can help you stay "vertical" and moving forwards in terms of how you accomplish your goals.

Several years ago, Tom Rath, author of How Full is Your Bucket? and head of the Gallup Research Workplace Research and Leadership Consulting Practice, published a book called Vital Friends which examines the effects that friends can have on your work happiness. According to Rath and research conducted by Gallup poll, having a best friend at work makes you seven times more likely to be engaged in your job.

Bottom-line: Stop reading here and engage in conversation with someone!

To your success,
Chandlee

The "S" Factor (Or Why to Stop Reading Right Now!)

Struggling to find the best solution to your latest career condundrum? Too tired to articulate yourself fully through a new cover letter? Grumpy with your job? The simplest resolution may begin with a good night's sleep...And if it isn't better in the morning, consider the alternatives.

As a career counselor and coach, I spend an inordinate amount of time thinking, reading, and writing about work. Every so often, I also think about the importance of sleep. One of the statistics that has always fascinated me is that of the effects of sleep deprivation. Are you aware that the effects of sleep deprivation have been proven to have as much of a negative impact on reaction time as alcohol?

I've always been fascinated by restrictions imposed on "mission critical" professions to reduce the possibility of errors: from truck drivers and air traffic controllers, to medical residents and engineers. In the U.S., truck drivers are prohibited from driving more than 11 hours at a stretch, but medical residents in hospitals are frequently asked to work a shift of 24 hours at a time (this decreased from a previous shift of 30 hours in 2003). To me, this makes no sense at all: in both professions, the lives of others literally depend on one's ability to remain alert. Why is it that we think medical doctors can and should stay up later than truck drivers?

This weekend's train accident in L.A. reminded me of this simple restriction: preliminary results indicate that the accident could be the result of an oversight by a less-than-alert engineer with a sound track record. According to one news account, a potential cause of the crash which will be investigated is engineer fatique: in California, engineers are limited to 12 hours a day running a train, although that can be broken up over a stretch as long as 18 hours. Tim Smith, California state chairman of a union representing engineers and conductors, describes the impact of being perpetually "on"

"Doing that for five or six days in a row, you have the cumulative fatigue factor that becomes a real bear," he said.

If it were up to me, "rest hour" would be a mandatory part of the work day--I'm always amazed at how refreshed I feel by a short nap. Conversely, the most challenging times I've ever encountered with my day job have occurred during periods when I've allowed myself little time for sleep. Coincidence? I don't think so...

In sum, your next career success could start simply with rest!

On Hurricanes and Avoiding Career Storm Surges

As I write, Hurricane Gustav is rapidly approaching New Orleans and millions along the Gulf Coast are facing potential wind, rain, and catastrophic losses of property and neighborhoods. One potential additional casualty of the storm--jobs. (Two months after Katrina, the Department of Labor estimated a loss of 230,000 jobs due to the storm.)

I've witnessed the effects of a storm surge firsthand: In December 2005, I spent two weeks volunteering with a Katrina relief effort in Biloxi, Mississippi. My former colleagues, students, and I arrived over 100 days after the storm and joined an active volunteer group of over 150--many of whom had been working since early September. We were shocked by the extent of the damage. One of our first assignments was to replace street signs in a neighborhood. (The official ones weren't ready yet, so we made our own temporary signs.)

If you feel that there is only a remote possibility that you or someone you know will be personally affected by a hurricane--think again. According to the Census, 1 in 2 Americans lives in a coastal county within 50 miles of the sea. This weekend, I wrote a piece for Career Hub on employment-related preparation strategies that you can use in anticipation of Mother Nature's whims. My primary suggestions:

Maintain contact with others through an e-mail address/phone number that is portable.

Store copies of your resume and other important documents electronically, and

Ensure that you have enough identification to complete an I-9.

Given that the window for Gustav preparations has passed, my thoughts turn to "Maxine," a Katrina survivor I met during my time in Mississippi. Maxine and her extended family decided to ride out the storm in her apartment: "My building is made of bricks--it isn't wood, and it isn't a mobile home. We figured we'd be fine if the water didn't come in. At first I thought I'd be okay if my car survived, then I thought I'd be okay if the house didn't get any water. Then I saw the refrigerator floating in the living room, and the room filling up, and I thought I'd be okay if the family just lived through it."

Maxine and her family survived, but she lost all of her possessions and ended up living with her mother. "It isn't great, but it's okay," she said at the time. Her long-term plans were to stay in her hometown through the rebuild--though her father had already moved to Texas--and pursue a job in customer service using her previous experience as an accounting assistant (a position she did not enjoy).

Last week, I wrote about taking time out to address minor annoyances in life and work (see Jason Alba's post, "I Hated My Lawnmower"). Today, I am thinking about challenges at work or in life that start small, grow larger, and that we convince ourselves that we can get through without addressing head-on. Have you experienced the mental equivalent of having a refrigerator float through your workspace--"If only I can get through today, it will be okay?"

Once they committed to riding out Hurricane Katrina, Maxine and her family had very limited control and a finite amount of choices to make as the storm surge seeped through their quarters. On the other hand, you may have more options than you realize. Are there situations you are living which have steadily gotten worse and that you can take control of? Anything small that you can tackle now before it becomes a groundswell?

To paraphrase Robert Schuller's oft-quoted gem: "What would you do if you knew you could not fail?"

Putting the Lawnmower Before Your To-Do List

Today, the world learned of the untimely death of Dave Freeman, author of "100 Things to Do Before You Die," at age 47. After experiencing over half of the adventures listed in his book, Mr. Freeman died of a head injury resulting from an accidental fall at his home. According to his co-author, Neil Teplica, "The title (of the book) meant 'you should live every day like it would be your last,' and there's not that many people who do...It's a credit to Dave -- he didn't have enough days, but he lived them like he should have."

Next Monday, a majority of Americans will say goodbye to summer on Labor Day--the day we honor workers before we begin work again! For many, the holiday is synonymous with new beginnings: as the academic year begins and campuses buzz with a fresh start, many job seekers will jump-start their search for permanent employment. Some will apply and get started with lists reminiscent of New Year's Resolutions. If you enjoy multi-tasking or are in a hurry of a particular sort, you may appreciate the following recent piece from the New York Times entitled Ten Things to Do Before You Finish This Article.

But before you set up automatic job search agents, polish your resume for rapid deployment, and start at the top of your to-do list with everything that must be done...I encourage you to smart small: is there anything that's getting under your skin now that might be fixed with only a minor adjustment?

My friend Jason Alba, wrote a great piece about this recently--he lived with a lawnmower that spit grass in his face for years until he spent a few minutes and discovered that all it needed was a slight adjustment. Are there any current modifications that you can make to your current situation that will make it more bearable for the short-term--and may even make it more attractive in the long-term?

After all, aggressively pursuing a lengthy to-do list can lead to rapid burnout; fixing minor annoyances can free up your time for both your job search and your personal life. Will you feel as though you've lived if you haven't been land-diving in Vanuatu, attended Las Fallas or the Academy Awards? Dave Freeman felt all of these adventures enriched his life: what's on your personal must-do list?

The Longest Day (What To Do When the Phone Doesn't Ring)

I'm writing towards the end of the official "Longest Day" of the year, June 21 (otherwise known as the Summer Solstice).

This longest day is traditionally one of my favorite days of the year, particularly as I enjoy attending solstice celebrations run by The Revels, an arts organization which promotes an understanding and appreciation of music, dance, and rituals from around the world.

On this official "longest day," I think of the unanticipated "longest days" of job seekers: the appointed time when you should be hearing from prospective employers (as sometimes promised), but the phone fails to ring or you don't receive any e-mail.

A friend who is currently in the job market, recently e-mailed me towards the end of such a day, "Should I be worried?, " she asked. "They told me they'd follow-up with me today regarding a second interview. I followed up with a thank you note last week, should I try again?"

My advice in this situation--and in similar events--is to be patient. On the other side of the employment process is an internal labryinth: there are interview feedback and authorization to hire forms to be submitted, there are colleagues on vacation, and there are often multiple positions to be filled simultaneously. In other words, frequently, a lack of immediate response from an employer means nothing more than that they are busy. (I encouraged my friend to wait four days before calling to touch base on the status of her candidacy.)

The best thing to do when you're waiting for the phone to ring is to ensure that you're busy, too. Seek out other opportunities and throw your name in the hat. If you've nothing else to do, plan an activity that you won't be able to do once you return to work do to your schedule. Program a "Google News Alert" to do employment-related research for you so you can wow your prospective employer when the time comes to follow-up. Above all, have fun: when you do land your dream job, you may find that your next "longest day" is one of an "endless to-do list!"

Musings on the Elevator Story

Conversations on interviewing and personal branding frequently mention the need to develop an "elevator story," or self marketing pitch. 

Recently I read an entirely different kind of elevator story--a tale of stagnation. In the April 21 edition of the New Yorker, Nick Paumgarten discusses the "lives of elevators." He begins with the story of Nicholas White, a former Business Week production manager who worked in Manhattan. In 1999, White took a Friday night smoke break, and spent 41 hours stuck in an elevator on the way back to his desk. His friends and lawyer convinced him that he should sue for damages and he came to believe that "returning to work might signal a degree of mental fitness detrimental to litigation." The settlement was less than he had hoped, he lost a job he'd held for 15 years, and--according to the New Yorker, is currently unemployed. The article concludes "looking back on his experience now, with a peculiarly melancholic kind of bewilderment, he recognizes that he walked into an elevator one night, with his life in one kind of shape, and emerged from it with his life in another. Still, he now sees that it wasn't so much the elevator that changed him as his reaction to it."

To me, the story of White's career post-elevator serves as a reminder: there are aspects of our work lives that we can control, and that which we cannot.  Resilience is a must-have in handling unanticipated "delays" or stalemates in your career. One good source for strategies: Fighting Back: How Great Leaders Overcame Career Disaster (Jeffrey Sonnenfeld and Andrew Weld, Harvard Business Review, 2007) . The book profiles the rise, fall, and resurgence (or not) of well-known C-level executives. Among the recommended strategies presented for career recovery: "Ignore the advice of friends to lick your wounds," identify what you've done well in the past, build on this and move forward...The authors advise, "No matter how dire the circumstances seem, triumphant comeback is possible as long as you haven't killed anyone."