Procrastination and the Job Hunt: Shall I Fix the Toilet or Write my Résumé?

Just the other day I received this email from a friend:

“Kate, I have to get my résumé together, but after 8 years, it’s such a daunting task. I took this week off to get it done and I’ve all but re-built my back deck, re-hung light fixtures, and fixed a toilet. Why can’t I do something as simple as update my resume? Gawd… any tips to get over this writer’s block? Where to start? Imagine, I’d rather fix a toilet!!!“

I found the email very amusing and, I am sure, it’s something everyone can relate to.

This is classic procrastination; actively distracting ourselves when facing difficult tasks that we would rather avoid, such as writing a résumé.

The reasons for procrastination vary but it often just boils down to fear. However, it is also habit that, like any other habit, can be broken and replaced with the more rewarding habit of taking action.

Here are some suggestions to help with résumé procrastination:

• Make a list of all the benefits of completing the résumé. Think about your goal to get a job and list the pay-offs and rewards. This may be enough to motivate you and get the ball rolling.
• Set goals and reward yourself along the way.
• If the mere thought of summarizing your talents and experience in bullet points is enough to inspire you to rebuild a back deck or fix a toilet, I’d suggest breaking the résumé writing down into smaller tasks. Instead of trying to update it in one sitting, work on one section at a time: objectives, experience, skills, education, publications, awards etc.
• Set a specific time aside every day in order to tackle the résumé. Try to schedule it during a time of the day when your energy is highest.
• Try making yourself accountable to someone for getting that task done. Perhaps “partner up” with someone else: make a commitment to each other, agree on deadlines and check in with each other to make sure the task is done. Making a firm commitment to someone else can make a big difference to your motivation levels. If eligible (Ontario resident, unemployed and needing assistance with job search), consider accessing the services of an Employment Counsellor at one of our JVS Employment Source locations, who will work with you to write the résumé.
• Once completed, enlist the help if others to look over your résumé for feedback, suggestions and to catch any typos.  Staff at our Employment Source locations also offer résumé critiques, so take advantage of this service and have a professional take a good look at your résumé .

Bottom line, as Charles Baudelaire said: ”No task is a long one but the task on which one dare not start. It becomes a nightmare.” To end procrastination and avoid the nightmare of an incomplete résumé, motivate yourself by (a) remembering your ultimate goal (i.e. the job, rather than résumé), (b) developing a plan, and (c) getting support to implement your plan.

Thinking About A Career Change? Part 1: Navigating through the maze of options

If you find yourself dreading Mondays and living for the weekends, clock watching, day dreaming and having no passion or interest in your current job, chances are that a career change may be in order.

For some, even a lay-off can become a great opportunity to re-evaluate their situation and consider options.

Before taking any leaps into the unknown, it might be a good idea to ask yourself some questions:

• Are you willing to invest the time, energy and perhaps additional training/schooling necessary to make the change?
• Do you know what it is you want to do and have you researched the new career?

If the answer is “yes” to the first question, but “no” to the second, you might want to spend some time considering potential career paths.   The first steps include identifying personal core values that are essential for you in the workplace.  You bring meaning and purpose to your life and a high level of engagement and energy to your job, if your it is in line with your interests, values and aptitudes.

Ask yourself these questions:

• What am I passionate about?
• What does my perfect work day look like? (e.g. working indoors or out? With a team or alone? at a computer, machine or truck all day or interacting with people? How do I prefer to dress — casually or formally?)

I recommend spending time to explore interests and options. A good way to get started is by getting your hands on the book What Color is Your Parachute? by Richard Nelson Bolles (which you should find at most libraries). In this book, you’ll find many exercises that will help you identify your skills, values, interests along with exploring your personality type, preferred working environment, etc.  The online service Career Cruising can also be a valuable online tool which you can access at a JVS Employment Source Centre near you.

Once you’ve narrowed your list down you should create an action plan. Identify the steps required to make the career change. Make a list of what you want to achieve, and then use SMART goal setting to ensure that they’re Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Timely.

Do you need additional skills and training? If so you will need to budget for tuition fees, living expenses etc.

What transferable skills do you already have that will help you in your next career? Enlisting the assistance of a career coach or employment counsellor is helpful with the decision-making process. You will also want to start networking and considering workplaces that suit your values and interests.

A career change requires commitment, action, research, planning and hard work. In my upcoming blog posts I’ll talk about more strategies to make that career change a reality.

Making a successful career change: Q&A with recent career changer, Kim Phelan

Tired of your daily routine, disgruntled with your job? Thinking about a career change? Being a “career changer” myself I am always interested in hearing other’s stories about why the left their occupation, how they found their passion, managed their transition and what advice they may have for others considering a change. I recently had the opportunity to interview Kim Phelan, owner of Down to Earth Décor (interior decorating) about her recent career change.

Q:  Kim, tell me a bit about your background and what you were doing before your career change
A:  I have a degree in Psychology with a Minor in Economics and I took a Post-graduate Diploma in Business. I’ve always wanted to be in business, so I focused my job searching in that area once I graduated.  I started my career in Marketing at a Software Company. I managed trade shows, marketing collateral, sales support etc. After a while I became very involved with the software product itself. I did competitive research, product marketing and over time became a product manager & a director of product management. A product manager is basically a “CEO” of a product — they figure out what customers want, what to build and make sure it all happens.

Q:  What motivated you to change careers, and why did you move from marketing to interior decorating? 
A:  After 15 years in marketing and product management, I found that I was no longer challenged. There were no problems I hadn’t encountered in some way before and it wasn’t very motivating.  What I did find motivating was my home projects, home decor and different refinishing projects. I like using my hands, and seeing my vision come to reality. So when my last job ended, I reflected (with the help of my partner) on what I actually loved to do; software didn’t make the list but interior decorating did.

Q:Did the change require going back to school? How did you manage the transition and how did you know that this occupation would be suited to you?
A: To become an Interior Decorator, I needed to go back to school.  I researched my options for length of program, the qualifications I’d have when I graduated and the reputations of the schools. In the end, I decided to take a diploma in Interior Decorating from George Brown. Because I wanted to do residential design only, I didn’t need to become an Interior Designer; a Decorator was enough. I decided to do the part-time program in a full-time manner, so I was done the program in 10 months compared to the 3 years part-time it usually takes. I knew that the program was for me because of what I did in my spare time: I loved tracking style trends, and doing home renovation projects. When I reviewed the Diploma curriculum, I was very excited by each course that was listed. I knew that this was the path for me. It allowed me to capitalize on my past experience running a business, marketing and managing technical people, while still allowing me to be creative. Creativity was something that I had relegated to my home life, not my work life up until that point; the ability to combine the two seemed  too good to be true.

Q: Did you do information interviews beforehand, have mentors or have some kind of exposure to the world of interior decorating?
A: I read a lot of information about the industry and how the jobs worked, from blogs and other publications. I spoke to some seasoned Interior Designers about my plans and incorporated their advice. I also spoke to potential customers. As a Product Manager, my old job was to understand what the customer needed and what problems they had, so I used that skill in a new area.  By interviewing people who I knew I was able to understand the type of business that I wanted to run and how I could become successful.

Q:  What advice can you give to a potential entrepreneur interested in building a business?
A: Understand what you will offer, what makes you different.  Talk to the people you think would be your ideal client.  Understand the problems they want solved. If you can position yourself in a way that speaks to the pains your customer has, that’s half the battle.

Q:What challenges did you face (ie: loss of income/financial, back to school stress/anxiety, loss of former identity?) and how did you manage?
A: I definitely had a loss of income, but I was able to overcome that with a supportive partner and funding from Employment Insurance for retraining. Because I had been an expert in my former career, I often had to battle the idea that I don’t know it all yet.  Although that seems logical, after years of knowing what to do in most situations, most of my stress comes from not knowing the answer and having to figure it out on the fly. Because I am a home based business I was able to avoid much of the upfront costs that a lot of companies have. I decided I wanted to keep my costs low initially to reduce my stress level.

Q:  What advice would you give to someone considering a career change?
A: You are only limited by your imagination. By sitting down and figuring out what you love, you may discover a totally new career for yourself.

Q: How do you define success?
A: I define success in a few ways:
The first is happiness: Am I happy every day? Do I feel inspired by what I do?
The second is reputation: Are my clients happy? do they give me referrals? am I running a business that is fair and ethical?
The third is monetary: Am I running a business that is making money? Am I running it effectively? This doesn’t mean being a millionaire, but it does mean having enough.
So for me success is running a business that makes me happy, allows me to sleep at night and provides me with a comfortable living.

Kim, many thanks for the interview! Kim’s website is Down to Earth Décor

 

If you are thinking of making a career change, but not sure about your direction, start with some self exploration. Brainstorm possible options with friends, family and Career/Employment Counsellors, and target fields of interest with in-depth research.  Labour market analysis, information interviews, job shadowing, networking, connecting with associations should all be part of your information gathering (have a look at our blog post on this topic).  Kim assessed why she was unhappy and took time to discover what motivated her.  She spoke to seasoned professionals in the field (and potential clients) in order to gain valuable advice about her career change and that along with researching, returning to school and her background in business all laid the path for a successful career change.

You can assess your interests, values and skills through the exercises in the book What Color is Your Parachute by Richard Nelson Bolles (10 Speed Press)

Other recommended books include:

• I Don’t know What I Want But I Know It’s Not This: A Set By Step Guide to Finding Gratifying Work by Julie Jansen (Penguin Books, 2003)
• I Want Something Else, But I’m Not Sure What It Is by Ron and Caryn Krannich (Impact Publications, 2005)
• 12 Steps to a New Career: What to Do When You Want to Make a Change Now! By Carl J. Wellenstein (Career Press, 2009)
• How to Start a Home-Based Business by Bert Holtje and Susan Shelly (Morris Book Publishing 2010)
• 50 Best Jobs for Your Personality by Michael Farr and Laurence Shatkin (Jist Publishing, 2005)

 

At JVS Toronto we offer services to assist individuals to explore careers:

• Career Exploration Workshops at our Employment Source Centres
• In depth one-on-one  Career Counselling services

Job hunting portfolios

© Sergeitelegin | Dreamstime.com

What exactly is a portfolio and why should I have one?

When we think of portfolios and who uses them, we think of people in fine arts, designers, performing arts, models, photographers and education professions. However, all types of job-seekers can make use of a portfolio.  When a client asks me whether I think they should make use of a portfolio I almost always say “yes”. They can be effective in any field.  Think of a portfolio as a very handy tool in the job hunting process and a constantly evolving record that, if kept current, will continue to be of assistance as you progress along your career path.

A complete, well thought out and structured portfolio has numerous advantages. For one, it is a strong persuasive tool in the interview process to visually demonstrate evidence of your skills and abilities to an employer. Another advantage is that all your career related documents can be found neatly in one spot. This is very handy when you want to add that letter of recommendation or new certificate, and easy to refer to if you need to access any career documentation you might need.

Your biggest time commitment will be the initial development of your portfolio, but once you’ve developed it, keeping it current and up-to-date will be fairly easy.

Having a portfolio means you can back up what you are saying in a job interview with evidence. For example, when talking about your exemplary communication skills you can back your words up with actual samples that demonstrate your writing ability. Projects you have worked on such as workshops, PowerPoint presentations and articles for the company newsletter can all be included in a portfolio.

An important point to remember is that the portfolio is a tool. It is used in job interviews to back up or illustrate a point, not to simply hand over to the interviewer(s) to have them flip through.

And so how do I start my portfolio?

A black professional three-ring binder (zipper closure optional) is a safe option. Make sure it looks professional as it will be coming with you to your job interviews. A table of contents is important and an orderly system which identifies the various sections, (e.g. mission statement, education, professional development), using tabs or dividers.

Gather and assemble all your materials that you want to include in your portfolio. Wondering what to include? Think about documents that showcase  your education and work experience by showing examples and evidence of your work, skills, education and accomplishments.

Ideas of pieces to include are:

• your branding/mission statement which sheds light on the guiding principles that drive you and give you purpose, your work ethic, organizational interests, management philosophy, etc. and listing goals can be  included (ie: where you see yourself in five years time)

• your skills, qualifications and abilities, including a list of accomplishments highlighting your achievements in your career to date, samples of your work (e.g. Powerpoint presentations, reports, workshops you’ve developed, reports, publications, brochures, news clippings etc)

• testimonials, letters of recommendations and thank you notes from clients, colleagues and supervisors are always nice to include; some people even include favourable job reviews/evaluations

• photocopies of awards, licenses, certificates, degrees and scholarships

• any professional development activities; for example, provide a listing of professional associations and conferences attended and any other professional activities

• information about volunteer jobs and community service activities, especially those that relate directly to your career, can be included

• a copy of your current resume plus a scannable/text-based resume in case one is required (I would put the scannable resume in the portfolio’s pocket if it has one)

•  a reference list should also be included with the names of 3 to 5 people (including their full names, titles, addresses, and phone/email) who are willing to speak about your strengths, abilities, and experience; at least one reference should be a former manager

Besides the traditional portfolio, you should also consider developing an online web-based portfolio. Make sure your online presence/branding corresponds to your resume and your portfolio. The information should be similar online (ie: LinkedIn and any website you use for a portfolio) and back up what is in your resume.

The career portfolio is a great job hunting tool that sets you apart from other candidates, and if prepared correctly, it may help land you the job!

Making a Living as a Fine Artist

 

© Kate Parkinson

It’s the dream of almost every artist to make a living doing their art. The truth is that a minority of artists, illustrators, painters, cartoonists, craftspeople (and also actors, poets, fiction writers, musicians) are able to make a living as an artist.

Unless you’re fabulously wealthy, you may have to either find a day job within an arts related field (graphic/web design, gallery worker, clerk in an art store) or perhaps one not in the arts field. If you are passionate and driven you will still find several hours each day to pursue your artistic endeavours. The trick is to get a job you love, or like, or can tolerate, while you spend your “off hours” planning and fine-tuning/honing your skills and body of work.

Getting paid for your talents and what you love to do is an ideal plan, however it often requires paying your dues first, having a business plan and marketing your work. Besides a business plan, I also recommend an art portfolio, website, promotional materials and researching venues for showing your work.

As both an Employment Consultant and artist, I recommend searching for those who are successfully doing something similar to what you want to do, and connecting with them through opportunities such as events, social media and introductions. You might find it particularly useful to do an information interview,in order to get some advice and find out their secrets to success.

I will speak more about making a living as a fine artist in upcoming blogs; however, for now, I will leave you with some arts-related websites for further information:

Granting Agencies

The Canada Council for the Arts was  founded in 1957 by the Government of Canada; it describes its goal as “to foster and promote the study, enjoyment and production of works in the arts, and operate at “arm’s length” or independently of government”. 

The Ontario Arts Council (OAC) was established in 1963 by the Ontario government, the OAC describes itself as ”an arm’s-length agency” which ”grants and services to professional, Ontario-based artists and arts organizations support arts education, Aboriginal arts, community arts, crafts, dance, Franco-Ontarian arts, literature, media arts, multidisciplinary arts, music, theatre, touring, and visual arts”. 

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) describes itself as ”an agency of the Government of Ontario, which views itself as “a catalyst that enables Ontarians to work together to enhance the quality of life in their communities”, with the belief that “communities across Ontario are rich in talent, creativity and drive, and our grants stimulate communities to build on these assets”.

Arts Organizations

The Canadian Artist’s Representation/le Front des artistes canadiens (CARFAC) Ontario is the non-profit association of professional visual artists in Ontario.

The Ontario Association of Art Galleries (OAAG) was established in 1968 to encourage the ongoing and cooperative development of the province’s public art galleries, artist-run centres, art museums, visual arts exhibition spaces and arts-related organizations.

The Ontario Crafts Council (OCC) is a not-for-profit arts service which promotes craft and advocates for craftspeople.

Copyrights and Trademarks

The Canadian Intellectual Property Office provides information on trademarks, copyright and patents.

The complete text of the Copyright Act (R.S.C., 1985, c. C-42), is provided by the Government of Canada’s Department of Justice, which has an internal search engine.

Books

Artist Survival Skills: How to Make a Living as a Canadian Visual Artist, by Chris Tyrell (C.T. Productions), 2008

Living the Artist’s Life: A Guide to Growing, Persevering, and Succeeding in the Art World, by Paul Dorrell (Hillstead Publishing), 2006

Making a Living as an Artist, by the Editors of Art Calendar (the Lyons Press), 2002

How to Survive and Prosper as an Artist: Selling Yourself Without Selling Your Soul, by Caroll Michels  (Henry Holt and Co.), 2009

Taking the Leap: Building a Career As a Visual Artist, by Cay Lang (Chronicle Books), 2006

Interview with an Entrepreneur

I recently had the opportunity to talk to Michelle Ward, a friend and person I greatly admire for her energy and entrepreneurial spirit.

Michelle has started her own line of clothing called Addaboy which she refers to as “modern clothing for little rockers”. The inspiration for launching Addaboy came to her after her son, Kale, saw an old music video (new wave) and asked her if he could have some clothing that looked like the stuff he had just seen. After about a week of searching and coming up empty-handed, Michelle was stumped and very excited. Kale had inadvertently ignited a new business idea that would become Addaboy.

This is what I truly admire about Michelle because her passions seem to spark ideas for her businesses. Michelle has a passion for music and spent much of her late teens and early 20′s enjoying Toronto’s punk/new wave scenes.

This isn’t her first foray into starting up her own business; Michelle was also the person behind Fly Gurlz, the first women’s mountain biking community in Canada. Her love of biking and the lack of any women’s teams or women specific mountain bike training was the impetus for dreaming up and starting the program.

Kate:
So Michelle, how many days do you work per week?

Michelle:
We have two small children so life is a complete juggling act. I work 4 full days a week and then log in hours at night once the kids are in bed. I tend to do graphic design, web and computer-type work at night and deal with the manufacturing/sales side of Addaboy during the day. We bought a huge wipe off calendar for our kitchen and it never ceases to amaze me at how chock-full it looks at the end of the month!

Kate:
Many people think of ideas for a company or product but never really follow through. Do you consider yourself courageous? And how do you deal with the risk involved?

Michelle:
I think any person tackling something new is courageous and risk taking is generally about doing something that extends you out of your personal comfort zone! This is one of the main things I miss about running the Fly Gurlz. Women would be trying something they had never done before and at the end of the ride, lesson or race they would be on fire with enthusiasm – I fed off this vibe – it was incredible! Then this new-found self-confidence would have a ripple effect throughout their personal and business lives. They took a risk and gained rewards for facing it. This is the way I approach my entrepreneurial life. You have to go all in and experience the good with the bad. There is risk and it can be very daunting and scary at times but because of what I learned from Fly Gurlz, I know that I will come out the other side stronger, tougher and more knowledgeable than before I started. I am surrounded by an amazing family and lean on them often for support and encouragement. I think communication is the key to managing the stress of going out on your own and taking the risks involved with building a business. I am a long distance runner now as well and this seems to really help me stay focused and work out the bugs that tend to creep into your head when you are struggling to build a dream. Passion will get you through the tougher times as well – it is the lifeblood of any small business.

Kate:
When you started building your two ventures (Fly Gurlz and Addaboy) did you have mentors who provided help and advice? If so who were they and what did they teach you?

Michelle:
There were no blueprints available for Fly Gurlz when I started and because of that it was a very tough go. We were trail blazers and as a result I didn’t have any business model mentors to look to for advice. We were the first affiliated all-women’s club in Canada, the first North American all-female mountain bike trade team and the first event organizer to host a women’s only mountain bike race. So initially the community had to rely on itself and ironically this is what created such a strong foundation. As the program developed so did the amazing creative pool of women involved. So I can’t name one person over another, except to say that Fly Gurlz was always a team effort grown out of a mutual love for the sport of cycling!

With Addaboy things are different as there are many designers working in Canada who have already laid an incredible foundation for companies like mine to follow. Sara Filmore at Planet Kid in Toronto is most certainly my mentor for this business and she has been such a terrific help. She has taught me so much that I could fill a page with her wisdom! Suffice to say that I feel so very blessed for knowing and having her in my life.

Kate:
What advice can you give to a potential entrepreneur interested in building a business?

Michelle:
Do it right from the start. All those little things like name searches, registering your business, insurance and looking into the legal obligations of the kind of service/product you wish to bring to the marketplace. I believe it’s worth the investment to hire a lawyer to help you out with incorporation and the like. You also have to have a working business plan. A great book that was recommended to me by one of my mentors is the “E-Myth” by Michael Gerber. I think it’s a must read for any person who wants to improve their small business or launch one.

Other key advice I would give is that there is always a pay-off for hard work and in North America I think we often equate this reward as monetary. I have found over the years that money is often the last pay-off after many intangibles ones have been offered up. You need to keep your expectations in check and don’t get bogged down by negative tapes that can start playing as you struggle to launch your business. It’s normal and natural to experience many highs and lows as you travel down the entrepreneurial path. I remember around year 5 with Fly Gurlz another organization got a huge cash sponsorship. I was still slugging it out – working for 9 bucks an hour to help pay for insurance, team kits etc. That tape started in my head, “Why did they get that money? I should be making a living by now! ” Well, really, who said I should? By allowing those emotions in I became very angry, bitter and resentful and nobody wants to be around a person like that. Keep your expectations in check and realize that the early pay-offs will most often come in the most subtle and quiet ways. If you are in the land of anger they will go right over your head and you won’t see them. These small pay-offs are the very thing that you will need to keep going and persevere through the early hard times of building a business! Celebrate & rejoice in every small achievement and by all means – toot your own horn because nobody else is gonna do it for you!

Kate:
How do you define success?

Michelle:
Success for me would be defined as living a positive and upbeat life and never taking my health, family or passion for being on this planet for granted!

Kate:
Michelle, many thanks for sharing your views and advice on being an entrepreneur!

For further information on starting up your own small business, RBC Royal Bank has a good section on their website, and if you google the words “entrepreneur” and “test” you’ll find many online quizzes which will help you determine if you may have what it takes to launch your own business venture.

Green Jobs

Khaled Islaih is a diversity trainer and facilitator, whose work is focused on leveraging diversity as a gateway for sustainability. He is interested in environment-friendly jobs as a strategy to foster environmental sustainability, economic equity and social justice within our diverse communities .

Khaled has kindly taken the time to answer some questions about “green” careers for us.

Green jobs are a growing sector

Kate:

Khaled, what exactly are “green jobs”?

Khaled:

Green collar jobs represent a growing movement in the world of work driven by a combination of environmental and economic motives to save the environment, gain livelihood and build sustainable career in today’s changing economy. A green job is any job that enables people to earn livable income and build sustainable profession by reducing waste and protecting the environment. Green jobs can be found in many sectors including renewable energy, green transportation, environmental non-profits, green construction and natural resources management. Due to the growing environmental consciousness within communities and workplaces, environment will be an integral part of all future jobs and will force us to adopt conscious lifestyles.

Kate:

Where can I find “green jobs” advertised?

Khaled:

WorkCabin is a great site to help job-seekers find environmentally friendly jobs or environmentally conscious employers. The listings cover many positions including coordinators, program managers, journalists, directors, engineers, biologists, educators, and social marketers. Users can post their resumes, connect with prospective employers, register for green job alerts and receive a wealth of information about the new trends in green work.

Good Work Canada is another popular site for positions in the growing Canadian green economy. The site also lists green events for those interested in networking with employers and workers in various industries. Furthermore, the site has job search tips for landing an environmentally friendly job or creating a green oriented self-employment opportunity.

Eco.ca is an excellent website from the Environmental Careers Organization for anyone interested in green career development in Canada. The site provides students with links to educational opportunities, schools with environmental programs and information on new trends in the green job market. Job-seekers can search a large listing of current jobs available, post a resume and find information for networking events across Canada. This site also offers a unique email service for career advisors and educators to receive relevant information on green career development.

Green-jobs.ca focuses on helping people build their dream jobs in the growing Canadian green economy. Users can find links to job search strategies, listings for green jobs and subscribe for e-mail notification about new jobs when they are listed.

Many thanks, Khaled!

Khaled Islaih is a diversity trainer and workplace educator who recently re-purposed his career after completing a green economy course at the Transformative Learning Centre, University of Toronto. He was formerly an immigrant settlement worker and language trainer for newcomers to Canada. He can be reached by email: info@smartdiversity.ca

Are Tattoos still Taboo?

I often see clients who have visible tattoos and facial piercings and the question of whether to cover or not cover for a job interview frequently comes up.

The first step is to predict the reaction of the employer/company where you are interviewing.  One employer may not be the least bit rattled by tattoos while another may have strict rules against facial piercings and tattoos, especially in offices that maintain a specific corporate image (ie: banking) or where you’d be handling food or dealing with the public. Of course if you’re interviewing for a job at a tattoo studio or motorcycle repair shop then by all means show off those tatts and piercings!

As part of the company research you should be doing prior to interviewing try to find out all you can about the company culture.

I recommend that my clients err on the conservative side and remove facial piercings and cover tattoos if they are not sure about the employer’s policies.

This advice is coming from someone who spent years as a senior designer and art director in the creative industry. Yes it’s true, “artsy” environments such as design, advertising or the music industry usually (but not always) offer a lot more leeway however I still caution clients to research and then think about removing the body jewelry and covering tattoos.

Once hired you can find out the drill on whether or not it’s acceptable to uncover those tatts and put the multiple eyebrow rings and labret back in.

If a workplace culture frowns on such adornments, and a client is not willing to cover then I often have them think about this strategic question, “What is more important: being me and expressing myself through my visible body art or landing this job?”

If “being me” prevails then I would suggest forgoing the interview and searching for a more accepting and liberal environment.

As a final word I am pleased to tell you that as tattoos and piercings have become much more mainstream businesses and employers are also becoming increasingly accepting of body art and therefore finding workplaces that allow you to “be yourself” are becoming more and more common.

Road Tripping

Not long ago a friend’s 20-year-old daughter spoke to me about her confusion surrounding what to do with her life. As a recent college graduate she was unsure about what career path to take.I suggested she take a look at the website Road Trip Nation

Road Trip Nation is a wonderful PBS television series that started with a few college graduates who didn’t know what to do with their lives. Fresh out of college and unsure about the career paths in front of them, they were determined to expose themselves to more than just the traditional life roads. They painted an old RV green, hopped in, and hit the road to talk with inspiring people from all walks of life to find out how they came to do what they love for a living and for any advice they had for youth just starting out.

There are well over 100 video interviews with people from all over North America, in all different careers. You can watch episodes or individual interviews online.

I often use the website to expose my clients to what’s out there. I urge my clients to do their own road trip. No need for a green RV or time off, just connect with people who are in careers that interest you, do an informational interview and learn about their occupation and how they navigated their career journey.

And to quote from the Road Trip Nation manifesto:   “Define your own road in life instead of traveling down someone else’s. Listen to yourself. Your road is the OPEN ROAD. Find it.”