fbpx
Waiting on the World to Change
Waiting on the World to Change

Right now, America is experiencing a stand-off between those who refuse to accept change, and a global economy that thrives on it.

Manufacturing in America has been in decline for decades. The country is littered with hundreds of abandoned factories standing as silent, crumbling homages to an era when all one needed to make a decent living was a willingness to work long hours and the ability to numb themselves to the monotony of an assembly line.

Abandoned Factory

Abandoned Factory Replaced by Other Types of Employment

But those times are gone. Today, those jobs have been exported to cheaper labour markets. Others have been replaced by robotic arms that never complain, get sick, or rally other workers to unionize.

Wait for change … or be the change

If you know what it feels like to be rendered obsolete by technology or to have your job outsourced from under your feet, you have two choices:

Either, as John Mayer sings it, “wait on the world to change,” (which I don’t recommend) or you can change to meet the new requirements for success in the current labour market.

I know … easier said than done.

After losing a job, it can take weeks of scouring through web and newspaper listings to find a position that looks like it could be a good fit for your skills. Then, of course, you have to compete with a few hundred applicants to get an interview. And if you manage to get to that point, botching a single question could end the whole process.

Charles Darwin, the British natural scientist responsible for the theory of evolution once wrote, “It is not the strongest or the most intelligent who will survive but those who can best manage change.”

Want to get hired or promoted? Get help!

Those who best manage change don’t often do it alone. Yet, most people who lose their jobs seem to believe that the journey to rewarding and fulfilling employment has to be a long and arduous trip.

I’m here to tell you that it doesn’t. You might be excellent at what you do, but that doesn’t mean you’re an expert at marketing your skills to employers. It’s why bands use promoters, actors have agents, and Fortune 500 CEOs don’t handle marketing themselves … you need to be able to recognize your strengths as well as your “not-so-strengths.”   

Job Offer with a Pen

Get That Job Offer!

Using a career coach provides you with more confidence when re-entering the labour market, and helps to recognize and leverage your skills to increase overall employability. That means less time looking for a job, and more time in one.

Be Fussy. Your future depends on it.

But all career coaches aren’t created equal, and the industry itself is unregulated. That means you have to be very careful about the coach you choose. It’s important to do your homework and ask specific questions about their credentials and experience. For example, if you’re trying to start your own business, speaking to a coach whose experience was gained as the manager of a small retail store (plus a few days of coaching training) might not get you the results you’re looking for.

When I’m asked about my experience, I’m confident that professionally and academically, I can meet the needs of most of my clients. But if I believe I can’t provide you with the advice and guidance you need, I can usually find someone who can.

It’s a relationship, not a marriage

It’s also important that career coaching doesn’t last forever. It takes four years (or more) to get a PhD in most subjects, so unless you’re trying to become the next Richard Branson or Bill Gates, be wary of coaches who are motivated to keep all their clients with them over the long term; they may be more motivated by your money than by your success. 

Pinky Swear

It’s a Shorter Term Relationship, Not a Long-Term Contract

My basic package begins with a simple client assessment, followed by three additional sessions where the results of the test are used to assist me in providing strategic guidance to help you get your career on track. I offer more comprehensive packages, but they are tailored to your specific career objectives. If you’re working on ascending to the upper echelons of an international business, four sessions might not cut it.  

Need advice? I’m here to help!

You can wait on the world to change, or you can decide to fasten your seat-belt and change with it. Just know that if you’re prepared to do the latter, you don’t need “go it alone.”

If you’re ready to get back to work or earn a promotion, I encourage you to check out my bio/professional credentials and the range of services I offer on my website. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask!

 

Contact me by email, phone, or via direct message on Twitter, Facebook, or LinkedIn if you’d like to discuss any of these topics in more detail.

 

More than career coaching, it’s career psychology®.

 

I/O Advisory Services – Building Resilient Careers and Organizations.™

 

Easily share this article using any of the social media icons below.

Latest Posts

A Snapshot of Black Psychologists in Canada

A Snapshot of Black Psychologists in Canada

Although the CPA did not believe collecting disaggregated demographic data was a priority, the Black Psychology Section executive members started to collect this data as an interim measure. The Section’s hope and expectation is that the CPA and the various provincial and territorial Colleges of Psychology will ultimately take on this responsibility since they are connected to all psychologists working in Canada through the process of accreditation.

Things to do after you’ve been laid off …

Things to do after you’ve been laid off …

Certain experiences are common, but that does not make them easy to manage. Being laid off is one of those problematic yet common experiences.
In this blog article, I’m offering some ideas to support the thousands of people who are dealing with being laid off.

Six Good Career Books to Add to Your Library This Year

Six Good Career Books to Add to Your Library This Year

Summer is a natural time to indulge in some new reading material. With summer reading in mind, here are six good career books worth adding to your library whether as a physical book you’ll want to highlight and underline, or as an audiobook, which is a great use of time when you’re driving, walking, gardening, etc.

Rethinking and Modernizing Executive Presence

Rethinking and Modernizing Executive Presence

As an executive coach, clients sometimes ask me for advice on how to develop their executive presence. And every now and then, someone will make it clear that they have a very narrow definition of executive presence — and it usually rubs me the wrong way. The unstated subtext is that “real executives” fit a certain template, and that template does not include certain types of leaders, despite being accomplished and effective.  Thankfully, after so many years of tech executives capturing headlines and broad attention, attitudes have certainly shifted — and the dress code has definitely evolved.