Apr 16, 2008

BUSINESS MATTERS: Don't rule out career change in slow fields

By Mildred Culp / Daily News Columnist

Q: Dear Dr. Culp,

I really need some help. I recently lost my job after being in the printing industry. A career counselor from the local community college told me not to bother with real estate or medical coding-billing, the two areas I'm interested in for a career change, because these fields are slow and people aren't getting jobs. How can I find career help? Thank you.

Changing



A: Dear Changing,

You have to do something that interests you, but you need to determine if the stasis in an industry cuts you out completely. Ask your friends for a referral to a good career coach. Whether you find someone or not, start digging to fill your basket with information. Read industry trade journals. Look for statements about growth. Scan the advertisements throughout for more ideas. Once you know more about the field, interview informally with a company.

How? Get a referral or drop by a business. Look in the Yellow Pages or use switchboard.com and anywho.com. Cold call in person, if necessary, or make a telephone call first. Take a list of substantive questions. Listen to what the person says and doesn't say.

Unemployed

Q: Dr. Culp,

Can you tell me why I'm not getting job offers? I have over nine years of experience in health care billing/administrative positions, a bachelor's degree in health care administration and an associate degree in medical assisting. I get interviews; people seem as if they're interested in me and then I don't get the offers. I cannot get them to tell me why.

Also, I really need to find anything right now to make money, but how do I get a job when I am working and have to go to interviews? Please answer me on this as I am very frustrated. I've been searching for over a year now, sending out resumes and attending interviews.

Frustrated



A: Dear Frustrated,

You should be. Are employers contacting your references? Are they doing background checks? Are they finding out things about you that you don't want future employers to know? Get something short-term to do while you job-hunt. Earn money through part-time work, even if that means meeting the marketing challenge of getting it on your own. Meanwhile, get organized. Make time management your friend. If that means job hunting on your lunch break, so be it.

Energy

Are you wilting during interviews? Do employers ignore you after you've left, despite your thank-you note and follow-up telephone calls? Could you possibly be skipping breakfast - or shortchanging it and yourself in the process?

Think about it. Are you chugging an energy bar and a cup of coffee as you drive to your interview? Are you just grabbing a cup of coffee at the local Starbucks or McDonald's?

Deborah Enos, certified nutritionist and author, says, "Eating the right breakfast keeps your energy high during the morning and also keeps you more focused throughout the workday. Start your day with a carbohydrate and some protein to create a substance (catecholamines) in your body that will make your mind alert and sharp."

So ... how about pancakes and bacon or waffles and sausage? Too much trouble? Too many fat calories? Are you back to trail mix and milk? "Most people are able to increase our energy and our focus during the day," Enos says, "and be more productive and effective." Use your imagination. Consider your options. If you interview on an empty stomach, with zero creativity and resourcefulness, your job hunt will probably be going nowhere fast.

On top of that, you and your interviewer will have to listen to your stomach gurgle.



E-mail your job-hunting questions to Dr. Mildred Culp at culp@workwise.net. Copyright 2008 Passage Media.