Readers:
Dr. Randall Hansen, a nationally recognized career expert, is the Career Doctor.
Discover more about Dr. Hansen, read about the purpose of this column,
and find previous issues of this column at the home of The Career Doctor.
If you have any college, career, or job-related questions or comments that Dr. Hansen could
provide valuable assistance with, please
feel free to email him at: careerdr@quintcareers.com.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis.
Greg writes:
I've got a BS in Business Administration, and while I have worked in
business for a number of years, I have never really enjoyed any of the jobs.
More recently, I have become interested in a career in nursing. One
of my best friends is a nurse and I have seen first-hand how rewarding
her job is to her -- something so lacking in mine.
I did well in science classes in college and know that I could do well
studying for a nursing certification, but I worry about how I will be
perceived in my field as well as how my family and friends will react.
After doing some serious reflection, I am sure nursing was what I was
meant to do. What do you think?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
There are certainly some pros and cons of working in a non-traditional career,
which I will get to in a minute, but I think the most important thing to consider
is finding a career that you will enjoy -- that you will find personally meaningful
and rewarding. I see too many job-seekers who are just not happy in their
careers -- and are just not sure how to get out of them. Kudos for taking the
first steps.
And nursing is certainly a very hot career field right now -- with lots of growth
and plenty of room for both male and female nurses. Besides your friend --
which is a good start -- you’ll want to do more research on the field, perhaps
even do some informational interviewing and job shadowing before making
any final decisions.
If you do decide to go into nursing -- a non-traditional career for men -- you
should be prepared for some cons that many men face, such as people
questioning your sexuality, lack of support from family and friends, and a
lack of mentors of your gender.
But there are also some pros to working in non-traditional careers. First,
you often get more attention paid to your work. And for men working in
non-traditional careers, you are often given positions of responsibility
sooner -- because you are seen as having natural leadership and other
key skills. Finally, by working in a non-traditional career, you are having
an impact on society, because you are making it easier for the next
person of the same gender to break into the field.
Anne writes:
As a "mature" woman (57 years of age) being in the position of looking for a
new job, what advice can you offer me to sell my diverse skills. I have the
feeling that while I have management, training, administrator, executive
assistant and event planning skills, I'm "too old". My frustration level is
very high right now, as is my depression level.
Any advice?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Even though one of my students just referred to someone in their
forties as “old,” many employers are slowly coming around to
valuing the experience and skills of mature job-seekers. And
you, on the leading edge of the eldest baby boomers, are blazing
the trail for a complete re-evaluation of opinions and stereotypes
about older workers.
Some of the common mistakes I see with mature job-seekers are the following:
Job-Search. You must be open to all avenues of job-searching.
Of course, your network will still be vital, but since many of your
contemporaries may be retiring, you’ll need to build a new, younger
base to your network.
Resumes. Only include recent experience, say the last 15 years
or so. No need going back 30+ years, where much of that work
experience might be obsolete. Remove dates from older educational
degrees/certifications. Use a contemporary style and follow current
rules of resume-writing. Certainly someone with your varied experiences
needs to include a summary of qualifications section to sum up your top
three or four key attributes.
Cover Letters. The biggest mistake I see in cover letters written by
mature workers is an undertone of superiority because of your vast work
experience. One of the myths about older workers is that they are
inflexible -- that they know it all -- and you must walk the fine line of
showcasing your varied accomplishments without sounding rigid or
superior.
Interviewing. Since you’ll most likely be older than the interviewer --
in some cases, much older -- your key is to not intimidate him or her.
You’ll also want to showcase your adaptability and knowledge of current
trends and technology.
Anonymous writes:
I am desperate for some assistance!! My former supervisor was
recently contacted by one of two persons who interviewed me.
After follow-up with the interviewer, I was told that my former boss
was rude and did not want to answer questions regarding my
employment. Needless to say, I did not get this job!
What do I do? I have always given very positive responses to
interviewers when asked about my former supervisor and I've had
no reason not to do so until now. Of course, I know not to express
anything negative about my former job.
You should know that I worked under her supervision for 5+ yrs.
and received outstanding evaluations!
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Many job-seekers are under the mistaken view that former bosses and
supervisors are the only ones who can provide references when applying
for new positions. You simply need someone who can speak of your skills
and accomplishments.
My guess is that your former boss feels betrayed that you left -- and
perhaps in frustration -- is acting unprofessionally.
I would look for someone else to list as a reference from your previous
employer as well as continue to talk about the positive relationship and
evaluations you received from her. But you should be prepared for at
least one interviewer to ask why she is not listed as a reference. And I
would simply state that she is too busy to -- or prefers not to -- act as
a reference.
But I would also contact the former boss and invite her to lunch or tea
and try to rebuild the relationship. You did outstanding work for her --
and she should be the one telling prospective employers about how
great you are. And if she refuses, at least you know you were the better
person in trying.
Q:
Bernice writes:
My husband and I live in Ohio now, but we want to relocate back to Florida.
We have several resumes out on the internet and responded to several more.
Recruiters are telling me to give them a call after we move down there, but, we
were hoping we could find a job first, then move.
Do you have any suggestions?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Long-distance job-hunting and relocating are tricky, but doable. It’s going
to take some planning -- and perhaps some sacrifices and some patience --
but you can be successful.
Your first step -- since you already know the area -- is to develop a
relocation strategy, which should include a relocation fund because
you should make at least one trip down to network, interview, and
examine neighborhoods. And while many employers will not fly you
down for an interview, if you “happen” to be coming to the area anyway, it’s
more likely you can set-up an interview. If there is simply no way you can
afford a travel fund, you’re going to have to try and convince some
employers to conduct the initial interview by phone.
Your second step is developing job leads -- and you must be more proactive
than putting your resume on a few job boards. Let everyone in your network --
especially those in Florida -- know you are looking to return. You should also
research the major employers for your professions and consider contacting
them directly. You may also want to use a few specialized job sites – niche
sites based on location or industry/profession. Finally, consider talking
with recruiters and temporary agencies in the area.
Your third step is to be diligent about following-up every potential job lead
and keeping your network as involved as possible. Send thank-you notes
and follow-up with phone calls. You’ll need to be a bit more aggressive with
a long-distance job-search than you would with a local one.
Finally, remember that a long-distance search -- especially for the two of you
-- is going to take some time, so try not to get too discouraged.
