taking charge™

We ask a lot of our mates when we are looking for a new job.   

We may be asking too much.   

You need to grieve the loss of the old job, no matter the circumstances of your departure.   When it comes to career transitions, endings deserve as much respect as beginnings.

You need a supporting cast who can help you through the roller coaster of emotions that come with a job search.   People whose sole care is for you to land the RIGHT next job.   Not just THE next job.   People with up-to-date knowledge of job searching in a global dynamic marketplace and in the era of web 2.0.

It is not fair to ask your significant other to play this role.   Your income, in most cases, has a significant impact on them.   They have their own work responsibilities and worries, whether they are a corporate executive or out of the workforce to raise a family.

What you need is a team of advisors.   Actually, two teams.

You need a board of advisors.  Former bosses and mentors and colleagues, people who know your work, and who are interested in supporting you career through advice, mentoring, and referrals.  Picture meeting them in your dining room or in a virtual board room.

You also need a kitchen cabinet of advisors.  These are folks who would literally sit around your kitchen table with you.   Your kitchen cabinet members are people who know you REALLY well.  You can share your deeper concerns with them and they with you.  They make referrals.  They may provide advice.  And, as your career develops, the cast of your kitchen cabinet may be equally impressive as your board of advisors.  But the kitchen cabinet is your go to team when you want to celebrate a success (no matter how small or large), when your ideas are still unformulated and you need to talk them through, and when you are still hurting from your last career loss.    

Your search will be a roller coaster ride.   You will need people with whom you can hold hands and scream.  Maybe not literally, but who knows?   It will be a wild ride.   

Find your kitchen cabinet, and treasure them, even as you build your board of advisors.   If you don’t have a kitchen cabinet available, you can build one.  Find a group in your area of people who are also in transition.   If a group doesn’t exist, start one.  Meet every other week, or more if you’d like.  Hold each other accountable.  Most importantly, support each other.

And, consider finding a professional coach or consultant to partner with you.   Your significant other will thank you.