Your Career

WHAT’S GOING ON BEHIND THE RESUME

Consider the following common questions and concerns…

I feel ambivalent about my resume.
The ambivalence you feel just might be about more than your resume. Many people find that, as the years go by, they become increasingly dispassionate about their resumes. Oftentimes, it turns out that this sort of detachment is related to what the resume represents – a career that might be off track.

I am having difficulty identifying my strengths. Any suggestions?
This is a fairly common struggle for clients, as many are out of touch with exactly what their strengths are. As I say in my questionnaire, there can be a difference between what you’re good at and your strengths. Consider whether your job calls on your true strengths or merely those things that you can do well. Ambivalence comes to the surface when, over time, authentic strengths are underutilized.

Why aren’t my strengths and what I’m good at the same thing?
You can be taught or trained to do something well. A strength, on the other hand, is something that you have a natural talent for. There’s a lot more to it, but that gives you a way to start looking at the distinction.

What advice do you give people, like me, who are in a long term rut?
Obviously, a career rut can stem from a number of things – especially as we navigate this rough economic downturn. The worst kind of career rut, though, is one that’s tied to simply going through the motions. Are you following a cookie-cutter career path – one that is predetermined? Real satisfaction surfaces when you have a genuine appetite for the work you are doing. Also, it’s important to note that the professional side of things is just one piece of this dynamic puzzle. Professional bliss is not likely to occur unless your paying attention to your personal life as well.

It’s too late for me to make a career shift. I’ve been in my job for over 15 years.
The work you’re doing should “feel” right or you’ll likely find yourself in a perpetual state of unease. Because constructive career development is all about tapping into your authentic talents and getting closer to who you already are, it’s incredibly rewarding and fulfilling. Remaining on the wrong path – no matter your age or career level – is actually the much riskier choice.

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