This article originally appeared in The Wall Street Journal
March 30, 2009
By Alexandra Levit

Working on your `story’ is a major part of what we do together as we support you through your transition. Great article!

For some, making the decision to change careers is the easy part. It’s harder to convince others, especially potential employers, that you’re doing the right thing.

During your transition, you’ll often be asked why you’ve decided to move in the new direction. I’ve learned to communicate my story quickly, and more importantly, in a way that makes sense and puts listeners at ease.

Beth Zimmerman, the 46-year-old president of business consulting firm Cerebellas, experienced a similar challenge when she made the leap to brand management after 10 years in architecture. “If I was lucky enough to get an interview, I was typically met with incredulity as to why and how an architect could become a brand marketer,” says Ms. Zimmerman. She knew she needed a story that showed how her transition was “a logical and natural application of the capabilities I developed during my architectural career.”

Tell a Factual, Compelling Story
Ms. Zimmerman created an interview narrative that drew on her architectural background and related it to her new field. “I explained how architecture and marketing share many of the same core competencies — process-oriented thinking, intensive discovery of a client’s business and an ability to navigate between big ideas and the smallest details,” she says.

She also focused on how her problem-solving skills could be applied to new kinds of challenges. “Coupled with a skills-based résumé, my story helped me draw the picture for potential employers.” After just a handful of interviews, Ms. Zimmerman landed a job.

Whether your career change is your choice or not, you must carefully craft your story before heading out on interviews.

“I recommend writing down your story. Try to stick to the facts, and rather than sulking or blaming other people, put in positive statements about how you turned a challenge into an opportunity,” says Cy Wakeman, a workplace expert. “Employers like candidates who reflect on and learn from their own experiences, take control of their lives, and show that they’re bulletproof.”

Counter Skepticism
The more drastic your reinvention, the more persuasive your story must be. Make sure you’ve consulted with several contacts in your new field to find out what interviewers will be looking for. And have a plan that shows employers how you’ll acquire any missing skills.

If a hiring manager expresses skepticism, don’t argue with her. “You can say, for instance, that great leaders have a wide range of experiences, and that while you haven’t done this specific task, you’ve compensated in other areas and are willing to work hard,” says Ms. Wakeman. This is also a good opportunity to point out any work you’ve done in the new field, even if it was completed on a pro bono or volunteer basis.

Remember that your goal is to make a potential employer as comfortable as possible with the decision to bring you on board. Your reinvention may lead a hiring manager to suspect you’re less qualified, so your story has to immediately address those concerns.

Social networking, networking events, speed networking, alumni networking. That overused term — Networking… it’s enough to make anyone overwhelmed and stuck. Especially if you’re someone who has been working steadily, paying attention to making projects move along the way they’re supposed to. Not to mention taking care of kids, home, pets and maybe Little League, and then staying on top of the news. But suddenly the apple cart is turned up-side-down — news of a lay-off comes. Now you’re supposed to start networking (can you hear the exasperation?). My clients routinely tell me ‘I hate networking!’ ‘Agh – it’s the networking that’s the worst!’ ‘I hate those time wasting events that you have to go to. Why bother?’ I have heard more versions of that statement. Personally, I love to meet new people. I love to learn about what others are thinking and learning and arguing about. I love to eavesdrop and make up stories about people I see in grocery stores and airports. I can spin a yarn about people in the car next to me at stop light by watching how they’re talking, or not, to each other. OK, so that’s me.

The thing I’ve found with my clients is that we have to get past that idea that networking is torture. And that’s by just genuinely talking with people. People we like are always easier to talk with. No brainer. By dismantling what we think networking has to be and then simply connect with others in a person-to-person way we find that the loathsome activity becomes interesting and fulfilling.

Think about who you can reach out to today — not to network but to talk with them about how they’re doing. You have time now to connect — that’s a fact. So share that and find out what’s happening in someone else’s world. You may find you have new friends in former (or new) contacts. We all have to be very kind these days (we’ve always needed to do that, but now it’s imperative) to people — whether others are showing it or not the ground is moving beneath their feet too.

If you do happen to be one of those who are up for meeting new people of like mind I highly recommend checking out www.MeetUp.com. Find out what’s happening in your city or town. You may be surprised to see just how many people are getting together to talk about interesting topics. I attended a MeetUp group this week in Westwood, Tech Exec, and found smart, engaging people to talk with. No hotel ballroom to contend with, either.

Here’s our latest blog from our guest blogger. If you’re thinking about graduate school this is a must read. Our blogger did such a great job on her GRE and her grad school applications that she’s gotten into one of her top pick schools! Here’s the low-down on the oft dreaded, but required testing game…

The GRE: A Game of Chess

The Graduate Record Examination, or GRE exam, is generally a mandatory requirement for graduate school applicants. The majority of schools and programs do require GRE scores from applicants though some schools waive GRE requirements based upon their own set of criteria – undergraduate grade point average, for example. Currently, the going maximum age for test results cannot exceed five years by your application date. In the past, paper versions of the GRE were the standard, but now that format is mostly reserved for international applicants testing in foreign countries. In America, today’s test-takers can expect to take the exam as a computer-based test for much of its challenge arises from the exam’s most notorious feature – computer adaptability.

CAT exams, or computer adaptive tests have no pre-determined formula of questions. Each question arrives randomly at first, then the exam adjusts based upon test-taker performance. This sounds simple enough, but many do not realize that it is actually the difficulty level which adjusts to your performance. So, as you get more questions right, the difficulty level increases. Ill-advised test-takers may succumb to the pressures of increasingly challenging questions when this is actually a good sign. The harder your questions seem, the better you are likely performing on the exam. However, getting harder questions is of little advantage to you unless you can answer at least every-other-one correctly.

Preparing for the GRE is essential. Since it costs both time and money to take the exam, it is important to give the test serious attention. Additionally, test regulations prohibit taking the test more than once in a calendar month, which furthers the importance of studying if school deadlines loom. There are many tutoring and test preparation services which provide test-taking strategies and basic concept review prior to your scheduled test date. I enrolled in a three-month course though there was a brief single weekend format available as well. Since my undergraduate education was six years prior, I knew I needed a more extensive review, particularly in math.

The general GRE consists of three sections – verbal, analytical, and writing. Some schools do not require writing scores, but pretty much all of them require the two major sections consisting of verbal and analytical. The verbal section is full of high-level, challenging vocabulary words situated within question contexts such as analogies, reading comprehension, and antonyms. While you may feel adept at vocabulary questions, the unfamiliar vocabulary words can halt your high score. I strongly advise purchasing additional vocabulary word flashcards for the exam. To prepare, I memorized 500 commonly tested words and they definitely showed up on test day.

The analytical section tests not only your knowledge of math concepts from algebra, geometry, probability and quantitative comparisons, but also tests your ability to strategize under time constraints. As a timed test, the GRE stresses many test-takers with difficult material and just enough time to complete required questions. Commonly, many test-takers find it beneficial to review old math textbooks and some purchases GRE math guides for additional help. As with the vocabulary section, it is simply not enough to know the material; you must be able to complete questions in a timely manner and perform under the added stress of increasingly difficult questions when your answers are correct.

Practice exams are an essential component of test preparation. Online exams are the best resource available as many of them self-grade for immediate results. Most tutoring programs provide online exams in addition to classroom review with an instructor. I highly recommend test-takers invest in a preparation course with a tutoring service in order to have access to online practice tests. Since the actual exam is computer-based, test day will be less stressful if you already know how to navigate questions without relying on paper and pen. If you cannot afford a test preparation course, look for books that supply access to online practice exams.

GRE writing consists of a variety of exam topics which can be reviewed on the ETS or Education Testing Service website beforehand (www.ets.org). This is the only section of the exam that is not a CAT portion. Your exam questions are randomly selected from thousands of choices and you will certainly want to practice writing with speed, clarity and solid organization. Be careful to avoid spelling and grammatical errors, as graders will dock points for that. In total, there are two essays and practice essays are helpful for test day. However, online practice tests are not able to grade your essays, so you may need to ask an English teacher for help if you are not enrolled in a preparation course where your instructor can grade essays for you.

There is no single secret to performing well on the GRE exam. Every test-taker is different and some need more review than others. In order to do your best, commit to studying for at least two months, six days a week. This can be done when you sign up for a test preparation course or buy test preparation books. Once you have your study materials, schedule your studies and pace yourself through the material. Remember to allot a day off each week and take a brief break if the material becomes overwhelming. If you are struggling with a particular area, consider enlisting a private tutor’s help. Many local colleges and universities house college students able and willing to teach GRE concepts, especially if the tutor has taken the exam before.

Perhaps the most important part of studying for the GRE is properly acknowledging the level of challenge involved and laying out a study plan for your individual needs. Since the SAT or ACT mostly tests concepts, it is much like playing checkers. You are either right or wrong, bad move or good move. Conversely, the GRE tests concepts and problem-solving strategies used to get to the right answer. Combined with time limits, high levels of difficulty and questions that adjust to your performance, it is very unique. To succeed with the GRE, be ready to play a good game of chess.

I work with a lot of men and have been thinking a lot about what male ‘issues’ vs. female ‘issues’ are. There have been a lot of things written lately about how men have been affected more by the economic downturn than women. Clearly this is true when we look at the numbers and the fact that so many jobs that have been lost have been in the manufacturing and financial arenas — male dominated job sectors.

Most of us who work derive so much of our identity from what we do; men and women alike. I see this time we’re going through as a mind boggling, soul wrenching push — or nudge — to wake people up to see that they are more than what they do to earn a living. You may read that and say ‘Easy for you to say. You’re a woman.’ But I — and millions of women — derive a sense of identity, accomplishment, personal satisfaction from work and the money made. And I spend a great deal of time focusing on my son and my husband and friends. The difference that’s becoming starkly clear is that men have relied, often, on their work and place of work as the soul source or ball field of friendship. When that workplace is removed the ball field disappears. The team is gone. The daily challenge and comraderie is removed and is replaced by an isolating, shameful spaciousness. And then the barrage of personal doubts, helpful questions and nudges from loving family members engulf men like quick sand. And then the media (I’m a little down on the reporting that’s been done lately) — Newsweek’s article about men losing jobs was a mishmash of male bashing and observation. Net result…ugh.

So here are my recommendations:
Men – do channel your competitive drive into some game oriented sports or hit the gym and make some new physical goals for yourself. Write down all of your accomplishments — personal and professional. Know your financial realities and share them openly with your spouse.

Set the expectations with your family about what you are doing to find new work and what you will share with your spouse about your job search. I have to tell you that many men I work with don’t want their wives involved in their search. They don’t even tell their wives they are using my services to help them with their career change. Why? They don’t think they’ll be respected for doing this. What I know is that women hate to be left out of their partner’s process. Don’t make your woman beg to learn what you’re doing to solve this challenge…set the tone by honestly telling them what you hope to accomplish and that just as in business an outside consultant can identify where the gaps are in your efficiency. Women are working hard to keep their families and their office or work responsibilities intact, so they understand these difficulties from a multi-dimensional perspective.

Compassion and honesty are key here. The message that’s ‘in our face’ right now is that of the need for inter-dependence, community and compassion. Time to get real. Being real allows for action that is clear and honest. What a refreshing change. Out with the old and in with the new. As one of my male clients says — his new motto is Embrace Change. You never know how great this new way of being can affect you and all of those around you. Men are famous for being adventurous. Time to go for it!

I’m very curious about what’s happening ‘out there’. I read in today’s LA Times in a letter to the editor that this person can’t believe that even 30% of employed people feel ‘safe’ in their jobs. The piece is a complete bummer. I’m sorry that the LA Times chose to print this piece. I’m sorry that the media is fanning the flames of defeat and what looks to me like ‘resignation’. Yes, there are a lot of lay-offs and the job market is very tough. Does this mean that we should all buckle and fold and not lift ourselves up and get out there and connect and put our best foot forward? There are jobs out there. And there are ways to work; even if it’s for less money, less time, less security there are ways to keep yourself at it, on top of your search, on top of your game. I keep Winston Churchill’s words by my desk: NEVER, NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP.
I have been without a job. I have taken jobs and later thought about the wardrobe I bought to wear to the job…I kept the receipts in case I decided I didn’t want the job or the suits it meant I had to wear! We always have a choice about how we approach what’s happening in our lives. You absolutely never know what’s going to happen next. Good or bad if you put yourself out there and make the most of your time you will know that you’ve done something to move yourself forward.
Take a look at all of the resources that are on this website under Resources. There are so many good links here. I was just on Indeed.com — it’s on my site; I went on and asked ‘where are the jobs?’ This site gave me great information about where the jobs are based on their information. They have information on trends, postings, and a wide variety of interesting pieces. I hope you’ll make use of what I’ve added to my site for you. We at Daisy Swan & Associates aren’t going to give up. I’m not going to give up being optimistic. We are living in a time of great abundance. The hits we are taking hurt. And those who recharge (often from being burnt out, unhappy at their jobs, sick of working for people they didn’t want to work for anyway), retool and repackage themselves will be the real winners.

Daisy Swan & Associates – March Madness (or, not…)

What’s Inside:

• Welcome & Introduction, by Daisy Swan, MA, CPCC: The Los Angeles Career Counselor & Coach
• Lessons I’ve learned that have been helpful to me (and to others)
• Some Recommended Reads, Web Sites & Articles of Interest
• Upcoming Daisy Swan & Associates Events

Welcome & Introduction, by Daisy Swan, MA, CPCC: The Los Angeles Career Counselor & Coach

Hello, Readers!

I want to thank those of you who have noticed that I haven’t sent out any messages of one sort or another, as of late. Indeed, my last Newsletter came out in August, when the winds of change were whipping up some strong waves. And here we are, in the midst of the storm, as the month of March begins.

March is known for its winds and basketball games. I always thought that it was the cruelest month – although others have said it’s April – because of the tease of spring with daffodils and crocuses, but also wet snow, rains and slush…mostly found in places other than So. California. As I write this, I’m sitting outside in the glorious Los Angeles weather – it’s sunny and hot and there’s a beautiful breeze. Sitting here, it’s easy to remember more of what I’m grateful for; I recognize the fact that this can be harder to do, when it’s grey and cold.

I am very privileged to hear – and grateful for – the stories that my clients relate to me. I hear about companies whose integrity (or lack thereof) has left them yearning for a different kind of work. I’ve met with clients whose confidence has sunk by too long of a job search, only to be buoyed by a final, successful connection with someone who helps them to land a job. I’ve witnessed transformations of resumes and self-esteem, from depression to confident movement.  I’ve seen creative and capable people question their abilities, only to investigate further and find that what they’ve needed was more human contact vs. the isolation of a keyboard in a home office. I’ve also had the privilege of hearing about the sadness and regret of those who are in management positions, who have to lay off those who may or may not have been doing a good enough job. The heart-wrenching activity of telling people that their job is lost has such deep repercussions for those who do the telling, and for those who hear it.

Honestly, I admit that all of the turbulence of the markets and my clients’ ups and downs has personally affected me – I take my work to heart which means that I carry with me the stories of those who are hurting. In order to be the professional I want to be I’ve needed time to digest and process what’s been happening out there, and within me. Those of you who know me well, know that I don’t do roller coasters – I get motion sickness. These days, many of us are feeling the affects of roller coaster rides of the mind and of the stock market, and I don’t think they’ve been much fun or the type of exhilaration that my son seeks when we visit Six Flags. I’m here to report, from a much more peaceful place, that I have learned some things from this wave of emotion and thoughts that has caused some motion sickness.

Lessons I’ve learned that have been helpful to me (and to others):

1) Stop believing all of the thoughts that occupy your brain. Often my thoughts are just made-up fears that create stress and anxiety. Isn’t it easy, to get so far out in front of ourselves? The thoughts that make me happy and grateful help me to be more present and loving, and from that state of mind I can be more effective in taking the next necessary actions. While it may seem trite, keeping a list of those people and things that you are grateful for really can bring you back to a more peaceful state of mind; and peace of mind is a great commodity these days.  Try this, and see how it changes you.

2) Connect with others more often. We have more connectivity than ever, yet most of us haven’t been getting out and seeing people. Every report on happiness and satisfaction tells us that happier people spend time with other people with whom they can connect. Speaking the truth with others leads to more truth and understanding. And that leads to more willingness to share. In the last two months, I’ve made it a point to get out and meet with people in person whom I’ve only recently met briefly, or whom I haven’t seen in months. I’ve learned about opportunities for my clients and opportunities for me and for the coaches who work with me, as well as more about the developments of the world – which is fascinating and inspiring.  And to aid others in this process, we are offering groups to support and nurture those in the job search and transition realms. Even if you only connect with one person out of a group, you will have made progress. If you aren’t local and can’t connect with us here, look for a place where you can, near you.

3) Take time off to do enriching activities. This is essential – not a luxury.  As a business owner who has become a bit of a workaholic, I now see that I have to step away from the keyboard and spend some time in nature, or time with my family at the Monopoly board. I need to attend lectures and luncheons where I can hear more about what’s happening in the world, and where I can meet others of like mind.  And, we all know this, exercise is a must – and what better time to get in shape? All of these activities enrich me. What does this for you? Playing a pick-up game of basketball? Going cross-country skiing? Boxing? Knitting? Planning a move to a new part of the country? Then do it. Soon.

4) Face the truth of the situation in which we find ourselves. This is the toughest thing to do, and the most important. Looking at our spending and our necessities, and then making a plan that helps support us through this tough time, helps all of us to know where we stand in our lives. This knowing creates a sense of ease; if you need help getting through this enlist a friend to do it with you – hopefully someone who has the patience and mathematical acumen to go through a line-by-line list of expenses.

5) Be on top of your game. Be knowledgeable about a variety of topics of interest to others, so that you can talk with a wide cross-section of people. This way, you can strike up a conversation with a diverse group of people – you never know who will be standing with you in the [Trader Joe’s, Peet’s Coffee, Pinkberry, movie ticket] line,  where a chance conversation can begin. Smiling helps; smile often. We all need this.

6) Be prepared. Be as prepared as you can be with an updated resume that tells your story as effectively as possible. Being prepared to talk with others as clearly as you can – while staying positive and sincere – about what you are good at doing and how you are a benefit to employers, is a must. Be prepared with an updated wardrobe – you may have been in a casual environment for a long time, or perhaps a very formal one. Be prepared to dress appropriately for various functions and interviews. You want to make the best possible impression on those you are meeting. Which also speaks to being as comfortable in your own skin as you possibly can be…which takes us back to all of the above lessons.

7) Volunteer. Offering your skills and services to an organization that may be experiencing tough times due to a lack of resources, may be the perfect place for you to build upon – and use – your skills in a new environment. This gives you the opportunity to develop new ways of talking about yourself, increases your friend and contact list, and gets you away from that nasty mind-numbing computer or TV that may be giving you a back or headache. Go play with some kids or help organize a fund drive for an organization that needs you – and your invaluable skill set.

What we are currently experiencing in our world is wildly instructive for most of us. As a person who started meditating when I was 16, who studied and practiced Buddhism back in the 70’s (when it wasn’t hip), and who pays a great deal of attention to the intuition and information I get from my body, I see that this is a wonderful time for all of us to connect to a larger sense of the world. We have an opportunity to stretch ourselves by simply being present. Don’t let me lead you to believe that I’m a master of all of this: I’m clearly not. I do know that our fear and our unruly minds need to be calmed, and can be, by discipline and smart action. A very kind heart can protect us from ourselves and our personal and professional foibles.

Careers do not always move in an upward direction. Those days are gone and actually have been, for quite a while. A new model is emerging with our new world, and fighting it doesn’t help. Being flexible, to bend with the blowing breeze, and being present enough to stand upright in the winds of change, inherently fills you with integrity. And possibility.

Doing our best, no matter which direction we’re moving in, is what’s called for now. When I review resumes, I can see how historical events have affected career choices. If you think I’m talking about you, you’re right. And there are a lot of you. Many people have gone up, down and sideways as they’ve moved along in their careers. Often times, they had no idea a ‘sideways’ move was going to look like what it did. Who knew? Not engaging in the comparing and doubting mind that creates so much suffering for so many of us, will free you up so that you can see the options that exist, or to take action and drum up new opportunities. We are a nation of inventors; we can – and will – create something new to get the action going again.

Some Recommended Reads, Web Sites & Articles of Interest

The avid reader that I am, here are a few notable books that I’ve enjoyed, and think are particularly noteworthy in today’s life landscape. Also, check out my blog, which is updated regularly with articles I’ve found, as well as my own thoughts and advice:

“Outliers: The Story of Success” by Malcolm Gladwell
“Free Agent Nation: The Future of Working for Yourself” by Daniel H. Pink
“The Price of Privilege: How Parental Pressure and Material Advantage Are Creating a Generation of Disconnected and Unhappy Kids” by Madeline Levine, Ph.D.
“Loving What Is: Four Questions That Can Change Your Life” by Byron Katie

Other sources of information that I recommend:

“Speaking of Faith” with Krista Tippett, NPR Podcast
And check out the February 27th LA Weekly article featuring an interview with yours truly, Daisy Swan!

For more suggested reads, links to helpful sites, a Q&A with me, newsletter archives and more, check out the Resources page on my website.

Upcoming Daisy Swan & Associates Events

In the next few months, I am planning to host various discussion panels and networking events. If there is a topic you’d like to see us address through a panel or workshop, I hope you’ll take a moment to let us know. And if you know of someone you want to recommend as a speaker, please share that information, too. Details and dates for future events can be found on my website Events page. Included on this page, you will find further information about the afore-mentioned job search and networking support groups which we currently offer.

Until I get to see or hear from each of you again, keep your head up and your eyes open, and continually strive to be the best that you can be. Not that any of you would ever do any different!

Daisy Swan

This article is from The Wall Street Journal
By Karen Blumenthal
Published: February 25, 2009
Original Source

One of the worst parts of being laid off is coping with fear and confusion about what’s ahead. You may not be able to control your exit. But you can make decisions about your money and how it will get you through the transition.

So what do you do? Take a deep breath; don’t rush to pull the kids out of piano lessons or soccer. Instead, start working on a new financial plan. The new stimulus package, which extends unemployment benefits and helps subsidize health-insurance costs, should help. Then consider these five elements that your plan should include:

Stay covered. Unexpected medical costs are the last thing you need when you’re out of work. The Consolidated Omnibus Reconciliation Act, known as Cobra, lets many employees maintain their health insurance for 18 months if they pay 102% of the premium. That can be prohibitively expensive, but under the new stimulus law, unemployed workers who qualify pay 35% of the Cobra premium for the first nine months, with the government subsidizing the rest.

If Cobra is still too pricey, if it’s unavailable, or if your spouse doesn’t have access to a plan you can join, check trade organizations, business groups, unions or other affiliations — like church groups — to see if you qualify for a group policy.

Most large health-insurance companies also offer individual policies, though the coverage will likely be less extensive than your company offered. At the least, you should look for a catastrophic medical policy, which may have very high deductibles but covers major medical expenses. In addition, six-month policies can bridge your coverage if you’ll be starting a job on a set date or attending a university that offers student policies.

Figure out your minimum expenses. How much do you need to pay the rent or mortgage, buy groceries, pay for insurance and keep the lights on? What can you trim back or do without? Experts advise that you sit down with your spouse or partner to go over your expenses. Talk to your kids, too, if they’re in middle school or older, so they’ll understand, say, why you’re canceling a spring-break trip. You may want to consider different budget tiers — what has to go now, what could go if the search went past three or six months, and what you’d do after that.

At the same time, try to keep home life as normal as possible, says Melvin J. Scales, vice president of career-transition services at Right Management, a Philadelphia-based employment-consulting firm. “I encourage people who are married to still have a date night,” he says.

Count your cash. Know what you have on hand and what will be coming in. Three to six months of living expenses is a decent cushion to start with — but that still may not be enough in this tough economy. If you have a job but are worried about your prospects, you should be building your cash reserves.

You may be lucky enough to get several months of severance. If the money is paid in a lump sum, put it in your bank or brokerage firm’s best money-market account or in an online savings account that is insured by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. and pay yourself a “paycheck,” taking out a set amount biweekly or monthly.

If you land a new job quickly or your severance is paid in the second half of the year, estimate your income taxes. You may need to set aside extra cash if the severance money kicks you into a higher tax bracket.

If your company pays your severance over time, save some of every check for later, says Geri Eisenman Pell, an Ameriprise financial adviser in Rye Brook, N.Y. A working spouse may also want to make changes, she says, such as temporarily suspending 401(k) contributions to free up more cash.

Look for other income. Apply for state unemployment benefits right away because they can take three or four weeks to kick in. While payments may max out at about $400 a week, depending on your state, they can help cover some expenses. With extended emergency benefits, it may be possible to receive unemployment payments for a full year or a little longer. The first $2,400 will be exempt from income taxes.

You may also want to look for temporary jobs or consulting work or help out a nonprofit. While earning money will cut into your unemployment benefits, the work can expand your skills and keep your résumé fresh. “Five years ago, I would have advised against temporary work or contract positions,” says Terry Ebert, managing director of career-transition services at Ayers Group, a New York-based human-resources consulting firm. “But now, given the market we have, it’s much more viable.”

If one of your family is still working and you have equity in a home, some advisers recommend lining up a home-equity line of credit or a personal credit line. Many banks are tightening credit, and it might be harder to get a loan later if the family’s finances worsen. You might even want to draw down some of the credit line and put it in a savings account just in case.

If all these options still leave you short, you will need to consider more drastic actions, like talking to your landlord or mortgage lender about getting a temporary break from payments or borrowing from relatives.

Manage your 401(k). Tapping your retirement account for cash should be a last resort. You’ll pay income taxes and penalties on the money, you’ll cash out in a rotten market, and you’ll shortchange your future.

A tougher call is whether to leave the account at your company until you find a new job or roll it over to an individual retirement account. There’s no rush. If you have $5,000 or more, you can move the money at any time. (Often, smaller accounts are automatically rolled over to an IRA.) But if your 401(k) choices are poor or the expenses are high, you may want to make a change sooner rather than later.

Norman Boone, president of Mosaic Financial Partners in San Francisco, recommends rolling over your account if your company is small or in financial trouble. Your money will be safe no matter what happens to the company, he says, but sometimes it can take months to find the right people to sign rollover paperwork after you’re gone.

Wow. This has been some ride lately. If you’re reading this you may be looking for ways to cope with having been laid off, downsized, right sized, wrong sized, fired, or worried about all of the above happening to you. You may also be thinking ahead and trying to come up with proactive ways to approach your next moves in your career — Your Stimulus Plan.
I’m with our President — we will recover from this chaos and more and new opportunities will appear. What does that statement do to you when you read that? Take a moment to notice. Are you skeptical? Too anxious and impatient to take a breath? Or do you brighten just a tiny bit? Any of these reactions will inform you of how your beliefs are affecting your actions, and therefore your outcomes.
My previous post was about not engaging in job search activities all the time. Why? Because we need our personal resources to be as available to us as possible. Doing a job search can be stressful, and it can also be fun. I used to enjoy job search activities (so I guess I found my right livelihood, right?) because it was a great way for me to learn about what other people did for work. It was a great excuse to talk to people I didn’t know and learn about what various companies were doing — sometimes I found interesting things, and others not so much. The job searches I did always opened new possibilities for me to learn something new, and my insatiable curiosity would not only be slightly satiated but new friends and opportunities would present themselves. And that’s how I always found what I was looking for — through curiously reaching out and talking about what I loved to do and what was important to me.
I may not be looking for a job, but I know what stressful thinking can do to me. When I’m stressed and fearful I react with irritation to most everything, or I get exhausted. I’m less available and upbeat with friends, definitely with family, and even at functions where I’m meeting new people — something I really love to do!
What’s the best way to approach your personal Stimulus Plan? Take a moment to write down what you’re worried about. And then ask yourself if what you’re worried about will really happen. And if it does, then what’s the worst thing that can happen from there? And if you find that you really believe all of this awful stuff you’ve written down I want you to go to Byron Katie’s website, www.thework.com, and look at what she offers as a way to deal with your beliefs. She’s figured out a way to deal with stressful thoughts that really is simple and helpful.
Because all of us at Daisy Swan & Associates also help people manage and undo their stressful thinking you can just talk with us and we’ll help you with the next steps to enjoy your job search strategies. We’ll help you get your mind around what actions you can take to increase your opportunities, how to create your best resume ever, how to talk with new people who may turn out to be the next most important people you’ve met yet, and how to create and move through your Stimulus Plan. You are your thoughts and beliefs. We will help you untangle those so that your path can become clearer and calmer. As Joni Mitchell says in one of her songs, we’ll ‘mirror you back, simplified’. There are gifts in this economic downturn. Be someone who finds them.

Many of our clients have heard us say this to them, but this article says it so well that I wanted to share it with you.

This article is from Harvard Business Publishing
by Peter Bregman
Published: February 6, 2009

Do you know anyone who tried for years to have a baby but couldn’t? Then, after giving up, maybe after adopting, suddenly, surprisingly, got pregnant?

Or someone who was dying to be in a relationship? Dated all the time, but never met the right person. Then, after accepting he would be alone, started focusing on other things and, lo and behold, met someone and got married?

How about someone who lost her job? Maybe she spent the next year working on her resumé, perusing job sites, devoting all her energy to getting work. All to no avail. Then, after deciding to stop looking so hard, out of the blue, came a great job offer?

What is that? A karmic journey? A miracle? Statistical aberration? Pure random chance? Perhaps it never really happens; perhaps we remember those stories precisely because they are so unusual?

Or, perhaps, it’s a really great strategy.

I just heard a story from a friend of mine. She knows a guy who’s been out of a job for over a year. He spent the year working on his resumé and sending it out. He’s on Internet job sites every day. He tries to meet with people when there’s the opportunity but there aren’t a lot of opportunities these days. And he’s getting more and more depressed. It’s hard to get out of bed but he does. He puts on a suit and tie, sits at his computer, and looks. Eventually, he figures, he’ll find a job. I’m sure he’s right.

But probably no time soon. The sad truth is that there aren’t many jobs out there. And, just last week in the U.S., 200,000 more people started looking for them. Call me a pessimist. But I don’t know a single company who is hiring. (I’m in New York, where things are particularly bad.) If you’re the kind of person who likes to play the odds, then you’ll admit that, chances are, you’ll be out of a job for a while.

The same applies to companies who have lost clients, whose revenues are down, who are scrambling for business. It’s a scary economic environment out there.

I was talking about this with a close friend of mine who holds a senior position at a large consulting firm. He sounded down–not depressed–but uninspired. We were commiserating about the environment when he said, “We’re going after anything that’s out there. This is not the time to be choosy. It’s not fun.”

But I do think there’s another way to go through these times with less pain and more success. A way to increase your chances of getting that job. Of winning a new client. And maybe even enjoying it.

Give up.

Not completely. But mostly. Stop trying so hard. At most, spend 1-2 hours a day on it. Here are a few rules:

Write your resume quickly and efficiently. Get the basic point across and then let it go. Same with a cover letter. Your resumé is not going to get you a job. If you’re a company, the same holds true for your marketing materials. I’m sure they’re already good enough.

Don’t spend time on job sites. It’s highly unlikely, with all the people who are looking, that someone will hire someone they don’t already know (or someone they know doesn’t already know). Same goes for companies: don’t respond to RFPs unless you already have the relationship.

Spend all your hunting time with people: at lunch, on the phone, going for walks. Finding a job or new clients is all about human relationships.
If you’re only going to spend 1-2 hours a day on this, what should you do with your other 12 hours? If you aren’t going to spend your days looking for work, how will you find it?

Here’s my recipe:

Make a list of all the things you love doing or things that intrigue you that you’d like to try doing. This is brainstorming so don’t limit the list or judge it; write down everything you can think of.

Separate the activities you do with people from the activities you do alone. For example, gardening, reading, meditating, and writing are alone activities. Volunteering to run a fundraiser is with people.

Look at the activities you do alone and figure out if you can (and want to) do them in a way that includes other people. For example, join a garden club. Or a reading or meditation group. Or write something that other people read (a blog counts). If you can (and want to) make them activities that include other people, keep them on the list. If not, then cross them off the list.

Now’s the fun part: Spend 90% of your time doing things you love (or have always wanted to try) with other people who also love doing those things. If possible, take a leadership role.
A good friend of mine has recently gotten involved in a church she adores. She loves all the pastors; she came to our house for dinner the other day and couldn’t stop talking about them. So she met with them and offered to help in whatever way they needed. She’s now leading a monthly strategy breakfast with the pastors and lay leaders of the church. I’ve never seen her so excited.

Another friend is training for a triathalon with a group of 15 others. He’s in the best shape of his life and can’t stop talking about it.

A company I know is doing pro bono work for charities and the government. Everyone working on those projects is energized.

Another company I know has given all their people writing time; they’ve been told to put their ideas on paper and get them out there. Somewhere. Anywhere.

Why does this work? Woody Allen once said that eighty percent of success is just showing up. When I first started my business, a great mentor of mine told me to join the boards of not-for-profits and do what I do best for them. Other board members will then see the results and want to hire my company to do the same for them and their companies. That’s the obvious reason.

Here’s the more subtle reason this works. Nobody wants to hire someone (or a company) who needs to be hired to survive. Depressed is not attractive. People want to hire energized people who are passionate and excited about what they’re doing. Jobs come from being engaged in the world and building human connections.

And an even more subtle reason. If you’re passionate about what you’re doing, and you’re doing it with other people who are passionate about what they’re doing, then chances are the work you eventually find will be more in line with the stuff you love to do. And then . . . then your life changes (not to be too dramatic but it’s true). No longer are you, like my consulting friend said, “going after anything that’s out there.” You’re using this crisis as an opportunity to do work you love, at which you excel, with people you enjoy. You can’t help but succeed.

Now, I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking: that’s a fine strategy if you’re independently wealthy, getting that nice fat trust fund check every week to pay for your gym membership (or mortgage or kid’s tuition). But what about the rest of us? Our inability to pay the monthly bills might actually intrude on our ability to “enjoy” unemployment. I know how scary it is to be without an income.

And that fear is what you have to manage because here’s the kicker. It won’t take longer to find a job even though you’re spending less time looking. It’ll take you less time.

Pursuing things you love doing with people you enjoy will position you better to get a job; other people will notice your commitment, passion, skill, and personality and they’ll want to either hire you or help you get hired.

Also, actively pursuing other activities while looking for a job will make you more qualified for a job–because you’ll end up a more interesting person. When you finally get that job interview, you’ll be able to recount all the many things you’ve been doing (and will probably have a good time relating them) instead of saying that the only thing you’ve been doing for the past three years is looking (unsuccessfully so far) for a job.

The same holds true if you’re a company looking for business. Spend your time doing things that will make you a more interesting company to hire when the business comes back.

And even if it took the same amount of time to find a job, wouldn’t you rather spend your time doing things that are interesting with people you enjoy?

I just heard the story of a woman who decided to do work she didn’t enjoy for a few years in order to make a lot of money. Three years later the company went bankrupt. That could happen to anyone. Bad luck. But here’s what she said that I found the most depressing: “It’s as though I didn’t work for the last three years–it’s all gone. And what’s worse, I worked like a dog and hated it. I just wasted three years of my life.”

Don’t waste this time. The job search. The client search. Do it. But do it in a way that excites you. That teaches you new things. That introduces you to new people who see you at your natural, most excited, most powerful best. Use and develop your strengths. The things at which you excel. The things you love.

It’s well known that people have a harder time getting pregnant when they’re stressed about getting pregnant. And it’s unlikely you’ll get into a relationship if all you think about is getting into a relationship. The same holds true for finding a job (or, for a company, finding new business). However hard it may be, force yourself to do things you love with other people. Let the work find you.

What do you think?

by: Liz Ryan

You know enough to bring a list of questions to a job interview. When the interviewer asks you, “So, do you have any questions for me?” the last thing? You want to say is “No.” But that could be the best option if you’re at a loss for words, because some interview questions are better left unasked.
Here are 10 highly unsuitable interview questions that should never make an appearance, unless you don’t want the job:

1. “What does your company do?”
This was a reasonable interview question in 1950 or in 1980, before the Internet existed. Today, it’s your job to research any company you’re interviewing with before setting foot in the door. We need to show up for a job interview knowing what the employer does, who its competitors are, and which of its accomplishments (or challenges) have made the news lately.

2. “Are you going to do a background check?”
It is amazing how many job candidates ask this question, which provokes alarm on the part of the interviewer, instead of the more general, “Can you please tell me a little about your selection process, from this point on?” Lots of people have credit issues that cause them worry during a job search, or aren’t sure how solid their references from a previous job might be. If you’re invited for a second interview, you can broach any sensitive topics from your past then. Asking “Will you do a background check?” makes you look like a person with something to hide.

3. “When will I be eligible for a raise?”
Companies fear underpaying people almost as much as they fear overpaying them, because a person who’s underpaid vis-a-vis his counterparts in the job market is a person with one eye on the career sites. Instead of asking about your first raise before you’ve got the job, you can ask (at a second interview) “Does your organization do a conventional one-year performance and salary review?”

4. “Do you have any other jobs available?”
A job search requires quick thinking about straight talk, and if a job is far below your abilities, you’re better off saying so than beating around the bush with this question. You don’t have to take yourself out of the running; you can say, “The job sounds interesting, but frankly I was earning 30% more and supervising people in my last job. Could you help me understand the career path for this role?” That’s the cue for the interviewer, if he or she is on the ball, to highlight another job opening that might exist.

5. “How soon can I transfer to another position?”
You’re broadcasting “I’m outta here at the first chance” when you ask this question. If you like the job, take the job. If it’s not for you, wait for the right opportunity. Almost every employer will keep you in your seat for at least one year before approving an internal transfer, so a job-search bait-and-switch probably won’t work out the way you’d hoped.

6. “Can you tell me about bus lines to your facility?”
Get online and research this yourself. It’s not your employer’s problem to figure out how you get to work.

7. “Do you have smoking breaks?”
If you’re working in retail or in a call center, you could ask about breaks. Everyone else, keep mum; if your need to smoke intrudes so much on your work life that you feel the need to ask about it, ask your best friend or significant other for smoking-cessation help as a new-job present. Lots of companies don’t permit smoking anywhere on the premises, and some don’t like to hire smokers at all. Why give an employer a reason to turn you down?

8. “Is [my medical condition] covered under your insurance?”
This is a bad question on two counts. You don’t want to tell a perfect stranger about your medical issues, especially one who’s deciding whether or not to hire you. Ask to see a copy of the company’s benefits booklet when an offer has been extended. This is also a bad question from a judgment standpoint; no department managers and only a tiny percentage of HR people could be expected to know on a condition-by-condition basis what’s covered under the health plan. Anyway, your pre-existing condition won’t be covered under most corporate plans for at least a year.

9. “Do you do a drug test?”
If you have a philosophical objection to drug tests, wait until they ask you to take a drug test and tell them about your objection. Otherwise, your question sounds like, “I’d fail a drug test,” so don’t ask.

10. “If you hire me, can I wait until [more than three weeks from now] to start the job?”
Employers expect you to give two weeks’ notice. If you’re not working, they’d love to see you more quickly. If you ask for tons of time off before you start working — unless you have a very good reason — the employer may think, “How serious is this candidate about working?” In any case, a start-date extension is something to request after you’ve got the offer in hand, not before.

Liz Ryan is a 25-year HR veteran, former Fortune 500 VP and an internationally recognized expert on careers and the new millennium workplace. Contact Liz at [email protected] or join the Ask Liz Ryan online community at www.asklizryan/group.
The opinions expressed in this column are solely the author’s.