|
Career Advice 16 to 60+
Through the lifespan, there are pivotal career
issues. Here is how I’d address them.
I’m 16 and career clueless. First, ask
yourself, “Which am I: a word person, people
person, numbers person, ideas person, artistic
person, make-it person, fix-it person, and/or
procedures-following person?”
Then go to a career library at your high school
or at a college, and hunt for a career that fits
and excites you. Next, job shadow one or more
people in that career. Don’t be scared to ask.
Many people who are good at what they do, like to
be watched or at least are willing to tell you
about their career. How to find someone to job
shadow? See if your parents, relatives or
friends’ parents know someone. If not, use the
Yellow Pages, Google, or ask a librarian in the
business section of a large public library.
If a career requires a specific major, find a
college with a strong program in that major. If
not, and you want to go to college, major in
something fun. Many people love the theater major,
and participating in plays is a terrific way to
build your reading, writing, thinking, and public
speaking skills.
No matter what your potential career, acquire
leadership and entrepreneurial skills. Those will
keep your income high and your job
offshore-resistant.
Join your college’s alumni association
while still in college. It’s a good networking
vehicle.
Get summer internships at places you’d like
to work after graduation. I believe government will
be the last bastion of moderate-workload, well
paying, secure jobs, so consider a
government-sponsored student internship program.
(See www.studentjobs.gov/searchintern.asp). Those
programs are a pipeline into good government
careers. Note: Most of those programs explicitly
give preference to minorities or even require that
you be a minority.
I’m 35, an artist (or performer) and am not
making enough money. What should I do? Is that
because you haven’t exposed your talents
broadly enough? If you haven’t, get busy. If
you have shown your wares more often than a hooker
has yet have had few bites, your talent isn’t
commercial enough. Could you make it so? If you
doubt it, cut your losses. Consider under-the-radar
artsy careers such as exhibit designer, store
merchandiser, or costumer.
I’m 40, been working for high-tech
companies for years, and want out. Often, the
problem is that field’s relentless pace. You
can use your experience in a less frenetic
environment in an IT job in a government agency,
for example, a school district. Or, self-employed,
help small old-line businesses set up or upgrade
their computer systems. Or handhold
cybernovices--but you must be able to patiently
explain and reexplain in English, not
GeekSpeak.
I’m 45, been a stay-at-home mom, and now
want to get back into the workforce. You can’t
count on a stranger to employ you well, even if you
highlight all the important things you did as a
homemaker and volunteer. If possible, ask friends
and family for leads. If necessary, take a
launchpad job: an entry-level position that offers
opportunities for you to rise. An alternative: many
stay-at-home moms start businesses such as
tutoring, child care, music teaching, or
editing.
I’m a 50--year-old manager and worry about
being downsized. First, find out how well you are
perceived: Request a 360-degree evaluation: an
appraisal by your superiors, peers, and
supervisees. Consider criticisms open-mindedly. For
those criticisms that seem legitimate, tell your
evaluators (and yourself) that you’re eager to
work on improving. If you suspect your job is in
danger, consider moving to health care
administration. Demand is high.
I'm 60, getting tired, but am not sure I have
enough money to retire. If you’re worried
about outliving your savings, can you cut expenses?
And regarding your fatigue, it may stem from
something other than aging: Should you lose 20
pounds? Drink less? Sleep more? Exercise
moderately? If you’re still low on energy, try
to get your job description altered so you do less
stressful work and more mentoring. Even if
you’re in a low-level position, your lifetime
of experience can be valuable to young turks: for
example, how to manage a difficult boss, tame the
paper flow tiger, give good phone, etc.
No matter what your age, my most important
career advice, indeed life advice, boils down to
two words: be good.
© 2010, Marty
Nemko
* * *
Marty
Nemko holds a PhD from the University of
California, Berkeley, and subsequently taught in
Berkeley’s Graduate School of Education. He is
the worklife columnist in the Sunday San Francisco
Chronicle and is the producer and host of Work With
Marty Nemko, heard Sundays at 11 on 91.7 FM in
(NPR, San Francisco), and worldwide on
www.martynemko.com
 .
400+ of his published writings are available free
on that website and is a co-editor of
Cool
Careers for Dummies.
and author of The All-in-One College Guide.
E-Mail.
Contact
Us |
Disclaimer
| Privacy
Statement
Menstuff®
Directory
Menstuff® is a registered trademark of Gordon
Clay
©1996-2023, Gordon Clay
|
