Melissa Wells – Career Consultant

Yes, I’m back from Africa. A fact that hit home today as I cried big, choking sobs onto my consorts shoulder. Without elephants pulling up papyrus outside my tent or an afternoon to spend looking for giraffe camouflaged amongst trees, I focus on what’s right in front of me. I’ll just say that organizing and unpacking is less thrilling than finding zebras or hearing hippos call. Much, much less.

The good news for you readers is I returned full of stories and videos! I’ll start with the most popular of creatures – the big cats.

Each of the big cats in Africa – the lion, cheetah and leopard is remarkably different in behavior and hunting success.

Which one are you?

The lion is quite a social creature. Lions live in groups, the females work together to raise young, which are birthed simultaneously, and to hunt. Lions hunt together, but are not coordinated hunters. They mostly hunt at night and sport a hunt success rate of 20-30%.

The cheetah, of course, is known as the fastest cat. In the next video, notice the particularly fluffy end of the tail. That acts like a spoiler on race cars, allowing the cheetah to make sharp turns at high speeds. Yet, for all that speed its success rate is about the same as the lions. Speed doesn’t add additional advantage. Cheetahs can be chased away from a kill by larger cats.

And the leopard. Larger than a cheetah, more clever than a lion. The leopard lives a solitary life. Its kill rate is about 50%, making it the most successful hunter of the large cats. It’s secret? Stealth and strength. It approaches undetected and uses powerful jaws and claws to subdue. Dragging kill into the trees, away from thieving lions and hyenas, is another advantage.

Which style do those you work with adopt – aggression like the lion, speed like the cheetah or stealth and isolation like the leopard? What are the differences between their style and yours? How does that impact your ability to succeed?

Interested in cheetahs, leopards and lions? The Cheetah Conservation Fund and Amani Lodge work with cats and rehabilitate them into the wild.

Stay tuned for more on the lion, leadership, the wisdom of elephants, and prosperity!

After the storm

Maun, Botswana to Windhoek, Namibia. 13:40.
I was asleep on the 10 seater propeller plane when the Frenchwoman’s screams woke me.
The wings were shrouded in clouds. It was impossible to see out the window.

Small prop planes are noisy. I have to scream across the 12 inch aisle to Mark. My seat is shaking, vibrating with the plane. The noise becomes ominous. Something is hitting the propellers. I can’t see out the window. I am asking myself, “Did we hit a flock of birds? That’s bad. Are we just in a storm? If I can’t see, how can the pilots?”
The plane drop sent me into zero G for a moment. I reach across the aisle for Mark’s hand. Suddenly my body consists only of my hands and feet. Both are in a cold sweat. I am completely unaware of the rest of my body until the plane jumps and I’m pressed into the seat on ascent.
There were no reassuring announcements from the cockpit. In fact, I could see directly into the cockpit. The 2 pilots were seemingly unaware of the screaming passengers. I catch a glimpse of the woman over my shoulder. She’s grabbed her handbag and assumed the “crash position”.
I am gripped by fear and notice thoughts that I wonder if other people have when they perceive they are close to death. I remember that the last thing I ate was a piece of feta cheese with peppercorn. “That can’t be my last meal?”
I have no presence of mind to pull out the Flip camera in my shirt pocket. I keep my eyes closed most of the time because seeing the French family’s fear makes it worse.
I think, “I don’t want to die feeling afraid.”
This is the first time, ever, of the hundreds of flights I’ve taken, that I ever think I might die.
I take a deep breath and the fear dissipates.
The plane is still falling, then jumping. That’s when I thought of the post I would write. I force myself to go over as many lines as I can in my mind. The monotony is soothing. Who will I link to? I actually think of the 31DBB group. Part of me is amazed that I am thinking about blogging and not loftier topics. Strange.
When we make it through the hail storm and can see the sun again, I am happy, jubilent almost. Mark pulls out his camera and records me smiling and drafting this blog post in my journal.
The French family kids are vomiting. Mark says it’s awful when the entire plane is vomiting, so this wasn’t his worst flight.
But it was mine. I was more afraid on this flight than standing frozen in a standoff with an elephant the other night.
By the way, please don’t tell my Mother. She doesn’t need to know about the flight.
With thanks to all of you who are reading this.
Windhoek, Namibia. 3 May 2009

The secret to networking is to be more interested in the person you’re meeting than yourself.

Job seekers, you hear it daily, “Network to get the job.” An oversimplification because really, networking is the start to building a relationship. Don’t waste your time “speed networking“, handing out your card and blurting out your spiel to anyone with a pulse. That’s the equivalent of randomly applying to jobs on-line.

Forget about yourself and listen. This is counter-intuitive, yet true. And it works just like sex. People can be incredibly sexually satisfied when they become more aware of their partner.

Get your business cards in order and a firm handshake ready. With these 3 questions you can determine who is interesting and worth keeping in touch with:

1. What are you interested in?
2. What are you excited about these days?
3. What are you looking for?

Asking questions puts the other person at ease because you are not another pushy networker and you are interested in what they have to say. Who doesn’t like to talk about their interests and passions? While you’re listening to the answers, process how much you have in common personally, professionally and whether it’s worth continuing the conversation.

Don’t get stuck in “go nowhere” conversations or “grip and grin” speed events. Be curious and end up with a mutual, relevant network.

I see lots of movies. Last night it was Adventureland. It is worth seeing.

I sat in a comfy seat in my small neighborhood theatre cringing for James. And for myself because it made me think of my worst job ever as a checker and more at the local A&P one summer during college. I needed the money to pay for school expenses the next year, so I didn’t quit. I wasn’t a good checker; people complained when I worked the Express line. That’s how slow I was. The movie also played memorable and forgettable 80’s music. The 80’s experience – music, acid-wash jeans, and significant ozone depletion caused by AquaNet is considered (by me) to be it’s own category of torture.

That’s how the worst job in the world feels.

This post is dedicated to worst jobs, ever – yours, mine, and all the awful jobs that we pray everday would end. They can come in all forms – office or outside; your own business or dutiful employee. Caveat: many think that in today’s crestfallen economy we should be 100% grateful for any job. While we are grateful for the income, if the money doesn’t make you sing while walking to work, it may count as “worst job ever”.

Here are some characteristics of the worst-job:

• you are the only person at work who is planning on leaving
• cleaning surfaces at work involves q-tips
• your parents tell you it’s “character building”
• you get yelled at for arriving early to work
• good ideas, or any idea, are not welcome

What was your worst job ever?

Endnote for those from New Jersey. Adventureland  reminded me of the amusement park about 40  minutes from our house on Route 22 , Bowcraft. Bowcraft was the kid of place that we were forbidden to go to – ever. It was that scary.

How much fun is it to be saddled with 3 times the work after seeing your friends and colleagues herded into a conference room for a lay-off presentation (complete with 3-ring binder door prize)? Are you wondering who’s really in charge because your supposed leader is hiding in his office crying like a baby?

Welcome to “Surviving Your Job”!  The chapter of your career that makes you wish you’d get fired because if the situation persists long enough, you will be. After which it will be much harder to answer the question, “What do you do?” (www.careerealism.com has a compelling piece on this)

Here’s how to survive your job with a bit of grace and smarts:

• Avoid anyone who says, ”At least you have a job. You should be grateful.” The exception is your grandmother. Grandmothers get to say whatever they want.
• Unleash your inner rebel. <dramatic pause>

“Who is this rebel you speak of? What powers does she possess?”  

Ahh, curious cube-worker, each of us has one. This is the part of you that wants to time the i-fart app to go off just as your micro-managing team leader is taking credit for your work. When pushed to the edge, sleep-deprived and miserable, the rebel takes no prisoners, including your career. 

“How do I find this inner rebel of which you speak?”

Follow the devilish grin. Now the hard part. Pick 3 ways that you can feel rebellious, but not harm your career (no physical harm, violent words). My clients are brilliant. Here are some tactics they came up with and successfully executed without detection:

• Throw out empty soda cans in bosses trash.
• When chained to desk, go outside for a walk.
• Ask boss to talk to super-annoying client by saying, “You’re really gifted at making clients feel good.”
• Don’t get on BlackBerry or e-mail before getting to work (more on this later)
• Find an image that represents you as overwhelmed, unhappy employee and keep it in your desk. Pull it out when to reach your limit (e.g. Rancor from Star Wars, Hideous Lizard, Gurgling Tar Pit)
• Make a list of what you hate about work, and change at least 1 of those things (here’s a common one: stand up for yourself in a meeting or situation).

See the trend? The act of rebellion itself matters less than getting your thoughts to a place where you feel in control and can abruptly cease the descent into uncontrollable rage.

How do you indulge your inner rebel?

I wrote this for the Smith College Career Development Office earlier this year.

Myths
I enjoy debunking myths. In fact, I make a living doing just that.
Two career myths needing to be tossed are:
1.    “I need to follow my passion” and
2.    “I have to find the right job”
To those of you who have uttered those thoughts, say it with me now, “What a bunch of crap!” How the heck are you supposed to follow your passion or find the right job if you have no idea what that is? Talk about making you crazy. I exchanged ideas about this with Mike Rowe at the EG, whose show “Dirtiest Jobs” is about passionate people doing unexpected jobs.

Try on these truths instead:
•    You bring your energy and smarts to a position, not the other way around
•    You will never know what you like to do unless you start doing something
•    Whatever job you do matters less than paying attention to what you enjoy and dislike while in that job

Have you always known what you wanted to do? You are the exception, and may have it toughest in the current economy. Be persistent and patient.  If your clear goal is elusive, locate a related position for now.

Consider the Unexpected
Everyone looking for a job, especially experienced hires, is forced to be flexible. This marks a change from life moving in a predictable linear direction (high school, college, find a job) and is a painful adjustment. As a career coach, my clients who are finding jobs (yes, in this environment) are those who quickly let go of preconceived ideas, and engage their network. Practically, this means seeking jobs overseas, in a new city, focusing on growth industries such as energy and technology, working as a form of service – in the government or as a teacher – and seeing the relationships between their experience and a different field.

Four Steps to Overcome Job Search Paralysis
If you have no idea what you might enjoy, here’s how to begin:
1.    Determine what you value in work – it’s as simple as asking yourself what you liked and disliked working in the past. Make lists of each. Even what most people think of as great jobs can include things you may find boring (doctors do a lot of paperwork); the unexpected job may excite you more.
2.    My favorite assessment tool right now is Kolbe’s A Index with Career MO+, which lists specific careers that match your learning, communication and interaction styles. It takes 10 minutes. Note: Kolbe Index is different than Myers-Briggs, and the writer is not associated with either.
3.    Based on this, pick three fields you would like to explore and target small to medium-sized organizations and opportunities overseas
4.    Start talking to people about your ideas

Decision-making is never made with complete information. If you experience a sense of fear because you are concerned you won’t be able to predict how much you’ll enjoy a position, don’t fret. Humans are notoriously bad at predicting what makes us happy. Make a decision. That’s the surest way to learn if you’ll like a position.

Friday, here in New York, I attended a job fair for those interested in positions with non-profits and public service organizations. I want to share the summary points and some useful tips on ways to make a Career Fair a valuable experience. Before you click away in horror, let me say that you are correct, a career fair is a most unlikely spot to land a job, but it can be incredibly useful. I walked around and introduced myself to candidates while handing out dark chocolate (the chocolate was key) and here’s what I learned.

Approximately 2000 people attended, up from 1200 last year (65% increase). Of the attendees my guess is that 75% were either class of 2009 or within 7 years of graduation. About 85% of participants were female. The organizations represented a wide variety of career choices and industries. Who had the longest lines of prospectives with resume at the ready? The US Department of State (think Homeland Security) and the US Department of Justice.  Other non-profits included the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA),  Common Cents and Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC).

So why did I bother to attend a career fair? First of all, some of clients decided to check it out and I wanted to offer my morale support while they did the work of moving elbow-to-elbow with other well-educated, eager searchers. Second, I knew I would learn a great deal.

Before you shrug off a career fair, here’s how to use it to your advantage:

1. Presence and Pitch. Be aware of how you approach the table and be mindful that these folks are working as hard as you are. A smile, strong handshake and positive demeanor go a long way. I overheard a seeker harass a rep about their internship requirements. What did the person behind the table do? She stood up, stated curtly that she had given all the information she could, and moved on to the next person.  By pitch I mean practice using different one-sentence introductions. You will quickly find which one(s) roll off your tongue.
2. Get the Title and Free Advice. Ask what the most appropriate position for you is in their organization. Literally. This verbage may be, “Hi, I’m Grace. I’m an expert grant-writer and researcher (fill in your skills). What position in your organization do you think best matches my strengths?” Notice you are NOT asking which OPEN position best matches. The answers may be something like, “Policy Analyst” or “Development”. Now you have the information to locate positions on the organizations web site that best match your skills (no more searching blindly).  You also have a strong foothold to ask more questions, such as, “Do you know who is the best person for me to talk to in that division?” and “How does my resume look to you?” The people I saw were eager and happy to help. You’re creating the possibility to continue the dialogue.
3. Interview Practice and Resume Review. If you have not interviewed in the past few weeks, get thee to a career fair and practice. The more you tell your story, the easier and more natural it sounds.
4. Not Alone. Recognize that as of right now, and increasingly so over the next year, you are one of many overqualified people looking for a job. You are not alone. Employers know this and, my personal belief is that they will become more comfortable hiring the overqualified. Attending a career fair is a great way to see that you are in good company and that nothing is wrong with you.

If you attend a career fair, your goal is to leave with a better understanding of which organizations you would enjoy working for, contacts at those organizations, and with the ability and knowledge to present yourself as a stronger candidate. Try to attend one that is smaller and not open to the general public, such as one sponsored by your alma mater or professional society. Hint: these ‘closed’ career fairs often ask for a school ID or to see your resume in order to verify your alma mater.

Isla del Cerrito, Argentina, 29 January 2009

Make some noise, Howler Monkeys!

If you’re another Howler Monkey (and even if you’re a simple human) there is no mistaking what these arboreal primates are saying, “Stay out of my territory!”  Do yourself a favor in your job search, be clear. The simple, direct, well-worded message will come across. Luckily you have many vehicles for your message, the resume, cover letter, and thank you to name a few. I’m going to spend most of this blog discussing what’s most important, the message. The message is your story.

I feel rather fortunate to have seen this particular species, and on our last day in the field, too. Typically, their calls are heard for miles, but seldom do they descend low enough for a clear view. To see and hear them is spectacular, check it out.

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“Don’t stop!, ” the guide said.

I had. I was scanning the gray and brown toned jungle floor around me. I heard something. I ran up the trail, crunching leaf-litter under my thick boots to catch up with him. When I’m in the jungle in Laos,  or anywhere, I listen to the guide. That’s why I’ve hired him.

“Why?”

“Snakes.”

Snakes, cobras specifically, are a good reason to keep moving. Cobras use vibrations to locate friend, foe and prey. What my guide was conveying with those two words was that cobras use their bodies to determine how near or far a creature is by the strength and frequency of the vibrations it feels through the ground. The cobra would know when I stopped and be able to pinpoint my location.

“Don’t worry. You are faster.”

Really? OK. Good. That’s very good! Humans can outrun a cobra strike because we are about 4x faster. It’s the shock that slows us down. The shock of seeing a large cobra raise its body and look right at you. Um yes. I’d say that’s shocking!

I’m working with many clients who have lost their jobs and are shocked. Shocked by the lay-off, shocked by the loss of colleagues, shocked by the job market. Who wouldn’t be? I’ll tell you though, those who are getting the interview and the new job are the ones who get moving.  They get a plan. Like cobras, they use vibrations to create a picture of what they want. In a nod to one of my influences, Law of Attraction (LOA), it’s worth saying that the first to determine how they want to feel during their job search and new job, are the first to feel it, create the vibration, and achieve success.

Villa Ocampo, Argentina, 26 January 2009

Mind control!  Parasitic flies and leafcutter ants.

Here’s the bottom line, ants are smarter in teams, so are humans. Make your search more enjoyable and effective by calling on friends with positive energy and encouragement or hiring a coach. Even ants who focus solely on the task of carrying leaves, without asking for help, risk losing their minds. No, I’m not kidding. It’s a fascinating story. Check out the video.

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