MORE than a Paycheck: Inspiration and Tools for Career Change

By Ruth Glover

MORE than a Paycheck: Inspiration and Tools for career change provides motivation through 20 stories about real people in career transitions. Some were pushed out or laid off. Others saw opportunities and jumped on the career roller coaster. Read to be inspired!

• Language: English
• Publisher: BookBaby
• Release date: Sep 1, 2009
• ISBN: 9780982445051

Book preview

Introduction—Kick Start Your Career Change

What does MORE THAN A PAYCHECK mean to you? Is your job a joy or do you dread each day? Some people, as they say work to live, while others live to work. Either way, I hope you will read each story in the book for inspiration to change your career in one way or another to find greater fulfillment in your life.

The first speech I prepared when I joined Toastmasters International, an organization to improve speakers' ability, required that I tell about myself. The title for the speech was Resume Ruth. Today, over 20 years later, I'm still helping people with their resumes and careers. It's my niche, my passion, my calling! I work with people who are content to stay in jobs they find less than satisfactory and people who love what they do. Because I am both an outplacement consultant and a recruiter, I meet people in transition all the time.

I'm writing this book to give you courage and hope through reading about people who made significant changes in their careers. Whether you love or hate your work, you may move your career slightly or with many different turns to achieve results. You have a choice: you can kick start it or kick and scream, resisting the change.

This book is about real people. Their names have been changed to protect people around them who might not want to be identified. Many had to work very hard to achieve results. Others slid into the next base. Layoffs, divorces, illnesses often thrust people into career change or moves. Up, down, sideways...they managed their careers.

As I interviewed interesting people for each chapter, I realized they fell into three categories, but not all that distinctly. People, Power and Persistence provide key elements in career movement. Just as we are not purely a specific personality type, we exhibit a mixture of motivational factors. The fourth section offers tips and suggestions for transition tools.

Too many people obsess about changing careers and remain mired in misery in their current careers, unwilling to risk returning to school or taking other action to improve their paychecks long term. Maybe your paycheck will be just a small change—but far more rewarding than you could ever imagine.

MORE THAN A PAYCHECK means you are able to find more fulfillment in life's journey. May you enjoy the stories in this book, finding hope and courage reading about the successes!

Part 1

People–Mentors and Incidents

If it hadn't been for a couple of my teachers, I might not have had the courage to go to college. If it hadn't been for the lady I counseled in outplacement who later gave me a chance to provide technical recruiting where she landed, I might never have had such a stellar recruiting career. If it weren't for a colleague in outplacement, whom I mentored 15 years ago, I might not be working in outplacement and career counseling. Our family, role models, friends and colleagues play very important catalysts in our careers. You will see how important people are in others' careers.

Chapter 1: Can-Do Carl

Training to Sales to Marketing to Publishing

Sure, I can do that!

Many types of personalities exist in the world. In my work within the recruitment industry, I've come across as many different types as you can think of—many of which I am outlining in the stories you'll read. There are victims, pessimists, optimists, chameleons and leaders. There are a multitude of many other types of personalities which represent a cross section of our world. Perhaps the most positive personality type I've encountered is someone who views the glass half full most of the time! Can-Do Carl is a wonderful role model for all of us to see opportunity in the face of obstacles.

When Carl began his career at a major plumbing manufacturing company about 20 years ago, he had no clue that his little training job would lead him to move his career in many different ways. Carl survived many downturns in the economy—always landing a new and better opportunity. What is his key to success?

Starting with the training job, he enjoyed the people and the work as he taught plumbing dealers how to deal effectively with their employees. Additionally, he provided training for corporate employees. The training focused on helping others succeed. He provided solutions for increased productivity as well as how to improve leadership skills. Although his youth could be an obstacle, his infectious smile and positive attitude endeared him to everyone. The dealers and corporate types would enter the classroom thinking, What does this kid know that I don't already know? But his reputation grew as a provider of excellent leadership and supervisory training.

Soon Carl was tapped to move to a sales position which provided new skills and an opportunity for more money. By moving to a field sales position, he learned through on-the-job training how to open, close and provide consultative sales. He studied the technology on his own. He was wildly successful! The Regional Sales Manager encouraged and mentored him, telling him what a stellar career he would enjoy.

When the inevitable down turn in the economy slipped into view, Carl worried that his job might be in jeopardy. However, the marketing gurus in the company recognized a diamond in the rough, and he was transferred to Product Marketing. At this point in Carl's career, his technical expertise grew substantially. His ability to banter with the good ole boys and make friends quickly with the marketing professionals assisted in the transition. He never faltered or whined about the unknown territory he faced as he quietly found ways to accomplish whatever he was assigned. With excellent writing skills and a can-do attitude, Carl provided the marketing team with a stream of new ideas for better sales. Whatever they asked him to do, he was there! Although he never had a course in strategic marketing, he analyzed the competition, wrote research or white papers and visited with the lab rats or technicians to see what issues could be solved. He wrote copy and planned strategy. He made speeches at conferences and became well known in the industry.

His ten years with the company provided the base for training, sales, strategic and product marketing skills—all because he had no fear of moving into unknown territory. He learned about faucets, drains, pipes and tools of the trade. Although he had no engineering degree or plumbing background, he did not allow it handicap his progress. He asked the right questions and formed life long relationships across functions which proved to be invaluable for his career.

When a recruiter called him about a Director of Marketing position, he never wavered even though it would require relocation. I can do that. By this time, he had a family which can often put a damper on moving. Although his wife was not at all happy about a move to cold weather where the job was located, she knew he would demonstrate the same tenacity at this higher level job as he had supported them well for the past decade.

In Carl's new job, he worked for a much smaller organization with maximum opportunity for extraordinary creativity and leadership. Within two years, he was moved to Director of Sales. And then his world exploded. He lost his job. Much to his amazement, as he never failed previously, he experienced the proverbial reorganization which affects so many of us every day. The management gurus wanted new ideas and new people. He was told his sales figures were not high enough, but he had not yet had time to make a significant dent in understanding his most recent responsibilities. He was shocked at the layoff. Knowing management wanted to replace his noble efforts was hard to take!

With his tail between his legs, he marched off to the outplacement office—never having experienced the emotional trauma of losing a job. Carl spent a few weeks riding an emotional roller coaster before coming to his senses. He realized that it was their loss. He was the same positive person with a boatload of experience and confidence to find another meaningful new job.

Several times in this book, I suggest that you be sure to take advantage of every bit of outplacement training available to you. Ordinarily your outplacement involves an assessment, resume preparation, interviewing techniques, advice on networking and marketing plus support to assist you with the emotional upheaval which comes with the territory. Even if you've hired many people, you will want to attend the outplacement services to utilize the many resources and years of experience they offer. Can-Do Carl realized the value of a powerful resume and the expertise that he could tap for the latest techniques for interviewing.

Carl knew that his industry relationships, as with most industries, were critically important. Since it was summer, he thought it would be fun to have a little time to relax and visit with his many friends from former days. With a comfortable chair, a glass of iced tea and his address book, he started calling his old buddies. Truthfully, he enjoyed catching up with people from his past. He had seen many of his former colleagues a few months previously at tradeshows and conferences. His background in consultative or relationship sales assisted greatly in this endeavor. He'd call and simply chit-chat—not asking for a job—but letting his friends know he was in transition. His resume and marketing list were ready for his next step. His cohorts (shocked that he was unemployed) willingly responded with ideas and leads for him.

One of his colleagues suggested a good person to contact would be the editor of a professional magazine for the plumbing industry. What a fabulous idea! he thought. That guy knows every player in the country! They talked awhile and the publisher asked him if he knew how to write. As a matter of fact, Carl was the editor of his university newspaper. He actually majored in Journalism his first two years in college before finishing his BBA. He and the publisher talked about how he might fit into the publisher's small organization. He could assist the publisher a myriad of ways: marketing, advertising, speaking to large groups, writing articles, attracting new business. The job was his!

Carl loved his new career. He never knew what each day would bring, but the deadlines and challenges brought regular excitement. He honed his writing skills, learned about the publishing business and used a multitude of his skills regularly. One day he would speak to a group of engineers and the next he'd write an article for publication. His network of constituents increased substantially. He was making good money and enjoying life. Of course, no job is ever perfect, but he knew the new career and relocation would strengthen his career.

About five years into this job, a recruiter contacted him. Would he like to move to a bigger, more prestigious publishing house? By this time, his family included two little boys and a stay-at-home wife—none of whom wanted to leave neighbors, friends, school activities and a lovely home. The opportunity would require another move. Without much thought, Carl gave the recruiter a resounding, No, thank you! He was happy where he was. He was what is known as a passive candidate or one who is not actively seeking work.

Six months later the recruiter called him again. Would you be interested in the job we discussed previously if you didn't have to move? Of course! He was open and ready for change. Remember? He loves variety and learning new skills. If he could determine a viable way to structure the job to his advantage and the publisher's, he would certainly entertain a job move—especially with a bigger, more challenging opportunity. He and his new manager, the publisher, agreed that he could work from home two days a week, traveling to the headquarters to stay in a corporate apartment for the other three days. Since he would travel frequently for the job, the arrangement worked well.

Carl moved to the new organization that has a wider readership. As the Editor he writes, schedules Webinars, blogs and coordinates advertising