Über die Autorin bzw. den Autor

About the Authors
Linda K. Rolie is a master's level managing director in outplacement and career development consulting services for corporations and impacted candidates. As the founder and president of Career Services, Ms. Rolie is known for measurable results in corporate settings, creating and implementing challenging programs, and consistently facilitating rapid return to work. Ms. Rolie delivers training workshop modules that repeatedly earn excellent evaluations from corporate management and participants. Her consulting focus includes needs assessments, strategic planning and implementation, and guiding corporate teams during restructuring.

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GETTING BACK to WORK

The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc.

Contents

Chapter One

The way through endings to new beginnings

There is a natural order in the process of loss and change. First, there is the ending and letting go, followed by an empty zone filled with confusion and distress. Then, there is a new beginning. Career transition may include a sense of loss, especially if the circumstances around job change are involuntary. There is often a gap in the trail where one experience ends (say college or a former job) and a new direction begins. People often have a strong identity attachment with a job or work environment. Losing a job or being between jobs can feel like a loss of your identity.

Every loss—whether from the death of a loved one, the loss of a job, or having been the victim of theft—tends to set off a natural process of emotions. The late psychiatrist, Elizabeth Kubler-Ross, M.D., identified five normal stages of loss:

1) Denial, with a response such as, "This can't be true or isn't fair," and a sense of emotional numbness or disbelief about your circumstances or (job) loss.

2) Anger (toward a company or co-workers who kept their jobs). Loss of control can foster feelings of anger.

3) Bargaining ("If I do XYZ, God will rescue me") or rationalizing ("I didn't want that job anyway").

4) Depression—missing the routine of work and friendship of co-workers—when the (job) loss hits home even if you were unhappy there.

5) Acceptance—beginning to think about future opportunities—making an action plan, and moving forward.

Emotions accompanying job change

Accepting circumstances and emotions surrounding job change can be challenging. Losing a job, changing jobs, or exploring a career path often causes anger, shock, denial, fear, confusion, frustration, doubt, skepticism, stress, guilt, anxiety, and/or depression. You may need to take some time to grieve before you jump into job search activities. It may take a year or more for feelings of grief and anger to dissipate. Over time, negative feelings will lessen in intensity and duration.

For your future success, you must deal with your feelings. It is imperative that you move past difficult emotions so as to not bring "emotional baggage" into your future interviews and job. Left to fester, emotional afterburn can sabotage future career opportunities. Studies focusing on tension, distress, anger, and depression reveal that those individuals who write their deepest feelings in a journal (spending twenty minutes a day for five days) have faster success finding jobs with heightened self-awareness and confidence, and lower stress. Writing down your feelings about your circumstances is liberating. Feelings such as grief, fear, and anxiety are normal during job transition. In the case of two equally qualified candidates, when one has dealt with feelings and the other one has not, the latter's unresolved emotions will leak through and reveal resentment toward a former employer, or other negative feelings, even though attempting a positive attitude.

The collaboration of career counseling and therapy

There are two aspects to job and career transition—the emotional one and the practical one. Easing the emotional toll of unemployment may require professional help. Creating focus and direction may include deciding whether to use a career counselor and/or therapist. If you want to make the transition faster, then the cost of not getting help may be significant.

There is always some trauma involved in transitioning from one career or job to another. Work gives us a sense of belonging in the world. When we are in career crisis, our sense of self can be filled with doubt and uncertainty. If you are discouraged, fearful, or at a loss about steps to take, or haven't found a career focus, it may be time to invest in yourself. Bringing closure to a job loss or familiar career requires emotional recovery. Successful transition requires practical tools and resources, a new vision, focus, direction, and identified goal. If you are doubtful whether you can identify and acquire work you enjoy and are good at, or question whether an action plan can help you stay the course, a career counselor might be the better choice to help you create your work/life plan.

You must feel safe, secure, and guided through the process of transition whether being helped by either a therapist or career counselor. You may have to deal with your feelings of anger, failure, sadness, and depression. In order to achieve forgiveness for a former employer and also for yourself, you must overcome thoughts such as, "If only I had ..." or, "If only he/she had ..." Your therapist and/or career counselor should be equipped to move you toward your peak performance—including addressing the chip on your shoulder that is showing up to others (for example, during an interview)—but that you don't see. Bringing emotional baggage into a job interview or new job is sabotage and must be dealt with if you are to regain control of your career. Professional counselors must be able to offer both an emotional and practical side to services. You can't move forward without either a mental or written plan to achieve higher levels of success. This requires focus and implementation.

Career counselors and therapists tend to specialize in niches and it is advantageous to work with one who has skills to meet your specific needs. The following checklist includes services you may want from a career counselor. I request that every client complete and prioritize this "needs assessment" form in order to avoid any assumptions or miscommunication, as well as manage expectations. You should identify the services you want from a potential career counselor and select the right fit for you.

Needs checklist for career counseling services

* Skills Identification (knowledge, skills, interests, and abilities)

* Assessment (interests, aptitudes, college major, training, certifications, licenses)

* Job Search Strategies

* Create Goals

* Focus and Direction

* Job Placement Assistance

* Personality Type and Job Match

* Job Application Form Completion (county, corporate, state, non-profit)

* Values and Work Preferences Identification

* Professional, Customized Resume

* Cover Letters

* Salary Concerns or Salary and Job Benefits Negotiation

* Plan of Action: Marketing, Networking, and Job Search Strategy

* Interview Skills

* Loss/Emotional Issues: Coping Strategies Impacting Unemployment or Career Transition

* Pre-Retirement or Military Transition

* Tele-Consulting Service (distance or commute is an obstacle)

* Resources/Referrals/Networking: Internet sites including job openings, skill sets, wages/salary information, and job descriptions

* Self-Employment/Business Planning

* Job Offer Analysis/Proposal Writing

* Other. Please address services or needs not listed above.

Seasons of transition

Job searches during periods or in areas of high unemployment statistics can seem especially challenging. Remind yourself of a time when your future appeared bright, work was plentiful, and the economy was up—those times will come and go again. Just like seasons change, periods of employment can vary from dormant to plentiful.

The...