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Your Work History! - Article from our Life Coaching Programs
Your Work History!
By Brenda Griffin Get A Job Expert
We know what we are, but know not what we may be. ~ William Shakespeare
“You are much more than your former job description!” That was my plea to Mike. He had worked as an electrician in manufacturing for decades. Unfortunately, that was all he thought he was capable of doing, after he was downsized. So I challenged him to ask, “ Are you really only capable of being an electrician at a manufacturing facility?”
It was important for Mike to take a step back and more realistically look at his qualifications and experience. Otherwise, he wouldn’t get far in his job search. Are you thinking the same thing? Are you thinking that the only job you can perform is the one that you have right now? Or the one you just lost?
One of the first actions to take when starting a job search, is to write out your job history and qualifications. By taking the time to be specific, all kinds of experiences will be revealed. Think about all the daily tasks and duties you performed. Write it all down! It is the sum of all these experiences that will help to broaden out all the possible job opportunities for you to pursue.
By doing this, Mike eventually came to see two things. First, that there were other types of jobs where he could offer his electrical skills. For example, he could work for other companies doing general facility maintenance work or with electrical contractors. He could also choose to open his own business.
Second, Mike could see that he was capable of doing plenty of other things besides electrical work! In fact, he was able to identify a dozen key skills he had developed over the years - things that were not part of his title or job description. All of this became evident to him as he wrote it all down.
By thinking he was only his former job title, Mike was getting stuck in his job search process. More than that, when Mike didn’t see any job postings for electricians at these types of facilities, he became anxious and depressed. Soon, he was falling into victim mentality and not taking charge of his job search. He needed to break this cycle of negative thinking by taking a close look at the facts of his work history.
By taking this close look, Mike started to see all that he had done as part of his regular duties. This also led him to see the value that he could bring to other employers. Ultimately, he could see more job possibilities for him to pursue. The more he worked on studying his qualifications, the more confident he became in his overall job search.
If you are starting a job search process, take a close look at your work history. What skills do you have that you can transfer? Take some time, and watch your job opportunities increase.
No matter what level of your ability, you have more potential than you can ever develop in a life time. ~ James T. McCay
"Seeing-Writing is believing" somehow writing or seeing it written triggers something is my brain that is used to break habits or better plan actions. Maybe it is like the brain needs a mirror of thought, in my case the mirror is either TV or written word.
I have been downsized for the last ten years, first from 22 years R&D career and recently Quality Assurance job. At age 57, I am going back to school, again and plan regular upgrades for CADCAM business, MasterCAM, CATIA, IT support skills.
The hard task is enough research for each career change...or find a stable career. R&D is fine if you can persist but specializing means that my skills are too narrowly focussed for other jobs. My hope is that I can apply careers to CADCAM business. I have seen skills from inspection-operator-supervisor point of view because I have been there. How can I best apply these?
Careers:
1. Quality Control Technician
...automotive-furniture fasteners, production shop and metallurgy lab
2. Non-Destructive Testing Inspector
...weld inspection at contruction sites
3. NDT Technician
...using automated NDT scanners to evaluate flaw detection designs, electronic assembly, instrumentation setup, report writing
4. User Guide software business
...contract software: Windows Help menu, User Guides, beta-test of software GUI
5. CNC Machinist
...post CADCAM training worked at a number of machine shops until a downsize or new management; example 2 week rotating shift and machinist returned early from disability
6. Quality Assurance Inspector
...hard sell of QA Manager led to new QA challenge that included rebuilding automated welding system with maintenance engineer, performing aluminum welding certification of our aluminum welding wire product before QA Manager and 3 inspectors replaced by owner's company employees.
7. CADCAM consultant business
...again hoping to use above careers to support MasterCAM-CATIA after 2 year "Mechanical Engineering Technician - Drafting" diploma program
...so that's
1. QC Inspector...size&metallurgy of screws
2. NDT Technician...x-ray, ultrasonics of welds
3. Software Business startup...User Guides
4. CNC Machinist...turbine blades, extrusion
5. QA Welder...automated aluminum welding
6. Mechanical CADCAM technician...CATIA, MasterCAM, extreme upgrade cycle to learn about product's machine design requirement
In each career the future business closed...my specialty R&D skill disconnected because I was not able to be licensed. Manufacturing is a fun career but without certificate-license tickets to the next career, it is much less fun than using an existing electrical license for example. So, what you get from university degree or electrical license is a ticket to a stable income...a reason to stay away from simple-design manufacturing that can better be done in China?
My dream is the challenge of learning about the best CADCAM projects...much more 9 to 5 but not repetitive QA arguments.
Final Answer?
Whether part-time jobs or long hours at home, I need this CADCAM business to work beyond age 65.
I am talking to myself here but any comments are appreciated.
Gary
This got me thinking more deeply...always have a tough time when it comes to presenting my CV or highlighting my job skills. thanks for sharing this.
cheers,
J
Gary,
Congratulations! I can see you have put in a lot of hard work over the years to maintain your career and stay employed during these challenging times. It looks like you have done a fine job of finding your next opportunity along the way.
It is nice to see that you are continuing to take initiative to plan for your future. Give yourself a pat on the back for that! Evaluating options and making a plan to walk out is the way to go. You are setting a wonderful example.
I look forward to watching you pursue you dream job! Thanks for sharing your story with the community.
Cheers,
Brenda
OK, Thanks...Panic attack? or not?
ANY advice appreciated...?This future leads to QA Auditor Cert. for this company and previous business friends in similar integrator industry...more software expertice than previous reaches.
Danger, Danger is that I talk about not one but two long, long awaited opportunities but still keep finding excuses to not spend 100% daily efforts to build a better brain, a brain expert for a MasterCAM contract senior woodworking machinist partner AND for full-time future of QA management for inspection of test instrumentation.
I have seen recent success with menu and workout...easy in comparison because I can feel much better but business lists of success? not so easy, even with bankruptcy, in the room.
So, I made checklists, which I could do for business...a checklist of acheivements, of solutions to a technical issue scenario. Issues that require organizing my R&D library books/files for quicker access...requiring that I unpack and make space, sort stuff and complete unpacking my hotelroom lifestyle.
Why can't I get this...why didn't I spend more time this week preparing for a 2nd technical interview for a PERFECT future, when the alternative is bankruptcy.
I need to break this glass wall or it will break me. 2pm, Tuesday, 11 November, Mom's birthday is the beginning or THE END. I will lose a lifestyle...what is left of one.
ANY advice appreciated....
GT
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