Lewinsky was headed for a public relations job at Revlon.
She would have been one among many attractuve young women
climbing the corporate ladder, anonymously.
Nowadays, Monica can't just show up in an employment agency
as an ordinary job applicant. Corporate jobs are closed to
her. She lends her name to diet products, talks to the
media, and pitches her line of handbags on the internet.
You probably have nothing in common with Monica Lewinsky's
life, but you may find parallels with her career. If your
job brings you money, visibility and status, you will face
unique challenges if you are displaced and forced to start over.
Rick called six months after he had been fired from a
high-profile, high-status, high-paying job, after twenty
years of non-stop success. For the first six months he had
alternated between heavy introspection ("What do I want to
be when I grow up?") and frantic bursts of activity (hiring
a resume-mailing service).
"I'm ready to move!" Rick said.
Rick wanted a high-paying job with benefits and autonomy.
He had no idea where to begin and was astounded to learn
that his job hunt might take a lot longer than the six months
he had budgeted.
Rick's success would depend on his own networking
skills, not his resume He had to identify executive search
firms who are well-regarded in his industry and who are
accustomed to dealing with people like himself. He needed
to communicate directly with firms that could benefit from
his skills and experience. Most of all, he needed a way to
avoid asking for a job from a one-down position.
The secret? Start a business. Even if your ultimate goal is
to be one someone's payroll, you have a cover story when you
interview. You bring business cards. You have anecdotes and
stories of success to share. You convey the energy and
excitement of a busy, goal-oriented professional, not the
desperation of a job seeker who's been unemployed for six
months.
Ideally, when you start a business, you begin with a plan:
Who is your target market? Who is your competition?
However, some people get overwhelmed by these steps. They
begin slowly: networking, handling out business cards and
offering complimentary services to charities and
non-profits.
Rick's business may take off. He may decide he really
likes being his own boss. Or a job may appear. Regardless,
Rick can take back ownership of his career by proactively
taking charge, not waiting for a magic phone call to make
everything all right again.
Employers want to hire people who fit their mold. The
challenge will be especially great for high-profile,
high-visibility professionals who have been displaced by
forces beyond their control.
Even if you are not high profile, you may have an easier
time getting clients than getting a job. You may be
competing for increasingly rare senior or specialized
positions in your field. You may be a maverick. You may
have made choices that get you labeled as unstable or
unmotivated.
For some people, a job hunt means
pounding on closed doors. A recent book, The Free Agent
Nation, shows that many people are getting the message.
Starting a business can be frustrating and exhausting, even
if you are living a dream. People often begin their journey
with anger. Why can't they just get a job? Why does it have
to be so hard? Along the way, they get hooked. And now
they're entrepreneurs, far too busy to reflect on what
happened before.
Bottom line: Avoid jumping ship into an icy sea. Stay on
board as long as possible while you build your own boat.
But if you are thrown overboard, don't wait to be rescued by
an ocean liner. Build a raft, stay afloat and realize you
are embarking on the adventure of a lifetime.
Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D. Author, Career Consultant, Speaker
*When Career Freedom Means Business*
http://www.movinglady.com
Ezine: http://www.movinglady.com/currnews.html
cathy@... 505-534-4294
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