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.
Dr. Hansen writes this column on a biweekly basis. 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.
Anna writes:
I just wanted to say a big thank you for creating such a brilliant website. I don't
know what I would do without it -- it's my source.
I've been sending out cover letters which (at the time) I thought were very good but I then
came across a job ad where they said they are expecting high volumes of responses. It was a job
where I didn't have the exact experience they required so I thought I would change tactics and try out your
2 column dynamic cover
letter and see whether I would get offered an interview.
Well, I DID and as soon as I sat for the interview, the first thing he said was that he was very
impressed by my cover letter and that all the information was in front of him easy to read.
Quick question for you. I just had the interview yesterday… how soon should I follow-up?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
This month marks the 10th anniversary of Quintessential Careers, which a friend told me
really means about 100 years in Internet time. Our mission in everything we do -- including
this column -- is to empower job-seekers like yourself and help you succeed, and I am so
happy that you were able to use the information on our site to help obtain the interview.
So many job-seekers seem to think that most of the work is done once they get the interview --
and I guess I see the logic of that because so much focus is put on obtaining the interview --
but really the interview is just an interim step because your goal should be the job offer.
Did you send a thank-you note? A short note thanking the interviewer and reminding him/her
of your key selling point is your first line of follow-up, and should be completed as soon as
possible after the interview.
Your next follow-up partly depends on the information you received at the interview. If the company
is close to making a final decision, then I would follow-up sooner than later. Typically, job-seekers
should follow-up once a week by politely contacting the hiring manager and expressing your
continued interest in the position and the company.
Ashley writes:
Although I'm only 12, I still am trying to find my career early. That's what my careers teacher said.
I really think that I might want to be an eye doctor, though I don't know why. And I don't know how
my parents would react to that. I don't know much about what an eye doctor does. I tried searching
on the internet but instead I came across you so I figured I'd email you. Can you help me find out
more about this career and how I should react to the fact of telling my parents?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
Wow… I think it is great that you are contemplating future careers, but 12 seems pretty
young to really know what you want to do with your life… but I am glad to help you with
the process.
A lot of people pick careers without knowing why -- and that's okay if they luck into a career
that matches their interests and skills. Unfortunately, a lot of people fall into the wrong careers
and spend many years in a job they don't like -- or worse. Thus, it is important to regularly do
some career planning -- at ANY age.
The one thing you want to avoid the most is choosing a career for either the wrong reasons
(high salary) or because of outside influences (family).
An eye doctor -- an optometrist -- is primarily responsible for the health of his or her patients'
eyes. Optometrists prescribe eyeglasses and contact lenses -- and refer patients with more
serious issues to ophthalmologists (who perform eye surgery). Besides the four years of college,
prospective optometrists must attend graduate school and earn a Doctor of Optometry degree,
and then pass national and state exams before being given a license to practice.
I think the two most important characteristics for a career in optometry is a high level of skill in
science and a desire to help people.
Why would you not want to discuss this career path with your parents? It's a great profession
and something to strive for -- even if you find something that interests you even more next year!
There are many great sources of career information available online and in print, and I encourage
you to use them. Also, assuming you have an eye doctor, see if you can schedule an appoint
to talk with him or her about the pros and cons of the job.
Taylor writes:
I graduated college last May and have a good job. I'm pretty happy at the moment, but because
I sort of lucked into this job, I feel very unsure of job-hunting. Someone told me about your
Website, and it's been a great help to me.
So, my question is… How can someone fresh out of college develop his brand? I've read some of
the materials you have on branding on your Website, but some of the advice seems more for
people more advanced in their careers than me.
Any suggestions?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
I think it's fantastic that you are thinking not just of your current job, but of your future career. And
developing your personal brand is a great way to move your career forward and achieve the success you seek.
Branding (some call it self-branding or personal branding when talking about individuals) is essential
to career advancement because branding helps define who you are, how you are great, and why you
should be sought out.
You can use this branding advice at practically any age, from college students to top management. It's
never too early nor too late to build and promote your personal brand.
Some readers might find it odd referring to a person's career and professional reputation as a brand, but
that is most certainly what it is. And just as marketers grow and promote their brands so you and I will
buy them, so too must workers and job-seekers so that you can get promoted or find a new job.
The four most important elements to branding are: gaining experience and tracking accomplishments;
promoting yourself (to co-workers, boss, network); developing a Web presence so you will have
Googlability (ideally as an expert); and building lasting personal and professional relationships (beyond just
casual networking).
Anonymous writes:
I've been working in the finance industry for the past 8 years and at 29 yrs old I make a
great income. I'm at a crossroad where I don't love what I do but I'm doing great at my job
and am on a very successful path, if I want it. What I think I'd really love to be doing is
teaching at the elementary school level. The only thing about teaching is the pay is low.
I can make in 1 year at my job what would take 7 years in teaching. Am I being naive
here by wanting to pursue something that doesn't pay a lot? Within my current relationship
I also feel guilty that I wouldn't be participating as greatly in the family income. I'm now
expecting my spouse to bring in the money doing something he doesn't love. Is that fair?
Should money being the driving factor in a career?
A:
The Career Doctor responds:
It's funny how there are very distinct stages to life -- and how those stages affect working
and job-seeking. I think the two most fascinating to me right now are quarterlife and older
workers, mainly because there tends to be great introspection and reflection resulting in
big changes.
You are certainly facing such a time. And the Quarterlife Crisis, a time in your late mid- to
late-twenties is when it occurs. There are many folks just like you -- who jumped at a job or
career path right out of college and found some sort of success with it, even without fulfillment.
Is money a driving factor in choosing a career? For some, yes. Should it be? For most, no. I
teach business students, and for many of them, money is an important part of why they chose a
business career.
But there HAS to be more. As you have found, you can have a successful career -- and make a
great salary -- but at some point you are going to be very, very unhappy. Better to tackle it now
than later in life, when you've let 28 years go by in an unfulfilling career.
I am a complete believer in following your career passion. I believe that when you follow your passion,
the money will eventually follow too.
