My daughter is bright and animated but has been unsuccessful in finding employment. She had a good job for 10 years and is now working as a community activist with no pay. She has letters of recommendations from two members of Congress. Can you help?
Oh Mom, I know how hard it is to see your little girl (and no matter how old, she’ll always be your little girl) struggling. And of course you want to do everything you can to help. But there’s a right way and a wrong way, despite our best intentions. Parents reaching out to their own network of contacts on behalf of their adult children is common and appropriate, but outreach beyond that should be left to the young ’uns. From now on, your daughter must be the one applying for jobs and making the pitch herself to anyone outside of your network. I know it’s hard — I still cut the edges off my teenage daughter’s toast. What you can also do is help guide her to career resources that help her evaluate her approach to finding a job, her skills, interviewing preparedness, etc. Former schools and organizations where she has some contacts can certainly help.
I’m in a career rut and feel that the New Year is a perfect time to do something completely different, but I don’t know where or how to begin. Any tips?
Helping you change your life requires just a little bit more info, because I’m not a magician. (Actually, I contemplated pursuing magic as a career when I was in middle school until an unfortunate mishap with a hat and a bunny. Just kidding… not about the magician part, but about the bunny.) Making a change may seem so daunting that many people never try. Instead of getting overwhelmed, break it down into small steps. Do you need to go back to school, make a lateral move or even a step back to get on a new track? What are the monetary considerations? Can you pursue your new career while employed in your current one? Which skills and experiences are transferable, and who in your network can help? Make a list and resolve to do one thing in pursuit of your new path each day. Before long, as if by magic, you’ll find yourself in a new place.
Gregory Giangrande is a chief human resources and communications officer in the media industry. E-mail your career questions to [email protected]. Follow Greg on Twitter: @greggiangrande. His Go to Greg podcast series is available on iTunes.