Dear Coach, I’m a teacher who wants to switch careers, but I can’t even get an interview in any field outside of the public education system. What advice do you have for people who want to change careers midstream but who aren’t sure what field they want to go into?
Carol Kleiman: You need one-on-one career counseling so that you don’t continue to flounder in your job search. Switching careers is a major enterprise, and you need help focusing on where you want to go. Contact the career guidance center of your local community college for help or get referrals from friends.
Dear Coach, I’ve been offered a fantastic job with lots of opportunities for advancement plus a $10,000 signing bonus. But I hear the reason that this particular job is open is that no one can get along with the manager. The position has been available for some time now and lots of people have been interviewed for it. But the last person they hired for the job only lasted six weeks and then quit–because of the manager. I’d hate to get into a situation I can’t handle. What should I do?
CK: You are a professional and should be able to work for anyone. To turn down this great opportunity because of what you’ve heard about the boss is counterproductive. There are very few job offers out there today that are comparable to the one you have, and it seems to me that by now, upper management is fully aware of the problem. And you certainly don’t have to like your boss. Most people don’t.
Dear Coach, Is “overqualified” a euphemism for “we think you’re too old for this job but it’s against the law to say so?”
CK: I’ve always believed that’s exactly what it means. And it also means: You probably want a fair salary to do this job and we don’t want to pay it–even though you deserve it.
COACH CAROL’S 15-SECOND DRILL: Being the new kid on the job is especially challenging for mature workers. If you’re the latter, remember that you have a lot to offer. Don’t hesitate to offer it.
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Carol Kleiman’s columns also appear in the Tuesday and Thursday Business sections. Hear her on WBBM-AM 780 at 6:21 p.m. and 10:22 p.m. Mondays and at 11:20 a.m. Saturdays. Watch her “Career Coach” segments on CLTV. Contact [email protected].