Create The Environment
During employment, people have resources, structure, and support to get the work done. When one is engaged in a work transition, very rarely is the environment established to support the change. As a result, it is often difficult to get into a feeling of "flow". Also, expanding the definition of environment to include, not only the physical, but also relationships, intangibles, and yourself, allows for more opportunity to create a supportive system. By expanding and reframing the definition of environment, we can look at and more easily analyze and change the environment to sustain the transition.

Exercise: Using the expanded definition of environment, make a list of the features within each environment that affect your work transition. For example, physical environment might include: home office, computer, internet access, file to keep organized records, telephone with answering machine and day planner (more about this in Checks and Balances); relationships as an environment might include: family friends, support systems, professional colleagues, former employers, customers/clients, and college alumni; intangibles as an environment might include: resources, ideas about how to conduct a successful transition, events, system to support change, and time management; your self as an environment might include: attitude, goals, skills, education, confidence in how you present yourself and taking care of your body, mind and spirit during the transition.

After you have generated your list, rate each item on a scale from -5 to +5, with zero being neutral, as to how it supports or weakens your work transition. Look at the worksheet a second time to evaluate which activities drain your energy and which increase your energy. By determining both the supports and energy flow, you can start to develop and control your environment to better serve you work transition.

Where people get stuck: You may have this response to environments: "Are you kidding me, who has the time to look at environment when I need to get a job?" As your coach, I will help you to recognize and establish the necessary environments that will ultimately save time, energy and increase your effectiveness. Email me for a free coaching session. Together we can make your environment work for you, not against you.

Checks and Balances
When it comes to developing structure, time management is one of the most difficult aspects of the job search. The internet has become both the friend and the foe in helping us with our job search, but it can easily become a massive time drain with little to show for it. Statistical information on how people actually get jobs is vague. A lot depends on the occupation, level (entry level or executive), and industry. In general, we know the more active ways of looking for a job; networking, targeting specific companies and creative job-search are more effective than passive ways; answering print and internet ads, and registering with search firms. Yet most job searchers actually spend the majority of their time on the least effective ways of getting a job.

Exercise: Start your week with a calendar or day planner and a record of the ways to find a job. These are listed from generally considered most effective to least effective. Plan your week so you are spending the majority of your time doing job search strategies that are the most effective.

1. Networking
   
2. Contacting targeting companies
   
3. College placement office
   
4. Answering ads from company web sites
   
5. Answering ads from professional/trade journals
   
6. Private employment agencies
   
7. Answering newspaper ads
   
8. Answering internet ads
   
9. Placing your resume on internet sites

Where people get stuck: Most adults believe they have a pretty good idea about how to look for a job, but when it comes to the day in and day out activities, the job search can be overwhelming. As your coach, I will help analyze the most effective ways for you to find a job, develop strategies for following through and accountability. Email me for a free coaching session.

Overcoming Barriers
We all have barriers, both external and internal. Some are more easily overcome than others. But receiving objective input can save a lot of frustration. If you are having a difficult time overcoming an obstacles, email me and we'll find a solution.

I have worked very hard over the last twenty years climbing up the corporate ladder. After my last job, I have decided to take it easy and not push so hard. When I apply for a job, recruiters tell me I'm overqualified and they are concerned I won't stick around. How can I convince them I really want the job?
--Jean

I met Jean (not her real name) at a workshop, and thought her question was typical of many mature job searchers. Jean actually had two barriers towards job fulfillment. When we started talking, it became apparent that while Jean really did want an easier job, she was feeling really guilty about it. After our talk, she was able to accept and feel good about the new direction and realized she presents conflicting emotions during her interviews. She also needed to tone down her resume. One of the primary mistakes of the mature worker is to include too much information on their resume. It isn't usually necessary to go back beyond 10 years. Look at the job objective and tailor your resume to the specific skills that are required for that job. It may require removing high impact words and accomplishments. Finally, be pro-active during the interview. Without going into great depth, simply explain you've decided to take a turn in your career and assure the interviewer of your desire to contribute to their organization. Show enthusiasm and follow-up after the interview.

Where people get stuck: It can seem like everyone is either too young or too old, has too much experience or not enough, the wrong degree, or the wrong experience. As your coach, I will help you identify the external and internal barriers and develop specific solutions to overcome them. Email me for a free coaching session.