Post Script to Overcoming Career Setbacks

There are two significant details regarding the end of my story about overcoming career setbacks.

First, the hiring manager that rejected me for the job told me during our followup meeting after the interview process that she was leaving her position to take another job. She'd be leaving just after the start date for the position for which she had just rejected me. The person that did get the job would be taking the position essentially without a manager until a new one was hired.

Second, about 6 months after being rejected for the job I learned that the person that was hired upped and walked out one day. It's not often that you hear about people quitting their job these days in this economy. While I don't know the exact reasons why this person left so abruptly after such a short time, it's not hard to imagine that a lack of a manager played into it and that working conditions were not optimal.

Knowing those two things, I can comfortably say that it ended up being a good thing that I didn't get hired and that a better job that is more right for me is waiting out there. Maybe, just maybe, that hiring manager did me a favor by not hiring me. And maybe, just maybe, the people consoling me saying that things happen for a reason were right!

Making a Career Change: Step 11 Your Job Right Now Is Getting a New Job

Previously: Step 10 Applying for Jobs

Step 11: Your Job Right Now Is Getting a New Job
Obviously and inevitably it all comes down to this. Hopefully you've found this process rewarding and helpful. There really is no end to making a career change and managing your career. You just need to keep repeating the processes over and over in order to keep your career fresh and alive and the same goes with the process of making a change. Keep repeating the steps as needed until you start seeing your desired results.

I wish there were more that I could do for you from here but it's now time for your own persistence and positive attitude to take over. This I am well aware is not easy. It's more than OK to get down every now and then as this process moves forward but you can't allow yourself to give up. There will certainly be setbacks as there are in all things in life. Learn from them and allow them to make you stronger. And then get back up and get after it again. Your new job is out there and it will find you and you will find it. Until then, stay focused, stay positive and keep at it because you never know when your next break will come.

For your convenience I've linked to the previous steps in the process so that you can reference them all in one place:

Making a Career Change: Step 1 Get a Handy Dandy Notebook

Making a Career Change: Step 2 Looking Back

Making a Career Change: Step 3 Looking at the Now

Making a Career Change: Step 4 Looking Inside

Making a Career Change: Step 5 Looking in the Mirror

Making a Career Change: Step 6 Looking to Others

Making a Career Change: Step 7 Putting It All Together

Making a Career Change: Step 8 Looking to Your Network

Making a Career Change: Step 9 Informational Interviews

Making a Career Change Step 10 Applying for Jobs

Still no power...still reflecting on adversity...

In honor of the ongoing storm recovery in the Northeast and my thusly inspired 7 steps for dealing with crisis on the job, I'm going to stick with the theme of adversity and look for inspiration to get through it.

Here's to a warm house with lights when I get home tonight!

Adversity makes men, and prosperity makes monsters.
Victor Hugo

Adversity reveals genius, prosperity conceals it.
Horace

 Do not fear the winds of adversity. Remember: A kite rises against the wind rather than with it.
Unknown Author

Adversity precedes growth.
Rosemarie Rossetti 


Sweet are the uses of adversity.
William Shakespeare
Duke Senior, As You Like It, Act 2 Scene 1 

All the adversity I've had in my life, all my troubles and obstacles, have strengthened me... You may not realize it when it happens, but a kick in the teeth may be the best thing in the world for you.
Walt Disney

If we had no winter, the spring would not be so pleasant: if we did not sometimes taste of adversity, prosperity would not be so welcome.
Anne Bradstreet 

7 Steps For Dealing With Crisis On The Job

The freak October snow storm has left 86% of my town without power. The temperature in my house when I woke up this morning was 54.8 degrees. Outside it was 26. Halloween has been cancelled. There are trees and power lines down everywhere. To say the least, this week is going to be filled with a fair amount of adversity for me, my family and my neighbors as we try to get through this crisis. Seems like an opportune time to think about how adversity and crisis relate to our careers if you ask me...

How do you respond to adversity? When it gets tough on the job, do you step up? Do you adopt a "Do whatever it takes" attitude to get the job done? Or do you find yourself struggling to cope with the pressure? My coworker referred to in this post did not deal well when things didn't go right and her reputation reflected as much.

Granted, no one likes it when things go wrong. We don't go looking for trouble at work. By nature, we actually plan in ways that avoid disaster and crisis rather than invite them.  But at the same time it's bound to happen eventually and how we deal with it makes all the difference in the world. A few simple steps may help you get through the storm and its aftermath while also helping you build a reputation as someone who can be counted on to rise to the occasion when things don't go right.

Control Your Emotions
Allowing your emotions to take over, especially in the early stages of a crisis, can be detrimental. Be prepared at all times. Know that as problems arise your emotional response may be to overact or panic and get out in front of that so you can...

Maintain a Clear Head at All Times
Being able to think clearly is imperative and you won't be able to do that if your emotions have gotten the best of you. You don't want to say something you will regret later. So step back, take a breath and...

Fully Assess the Situation
Gather the facts and listen carefully to people even if they are upset to the point that they are yelling at you. Many a time in the theatre was I confronted by an artist who had allowed his/her emotions to take over to the point of yelling. Sometimes we get yelled at even when the problems aren't our fault. If you get upset and start yelling at people too, then there are two upset yelling people, which will never allow a solution to be reached because you won't be able to stop and...

Listen
If people, no matter how upset they are, know that you are listening to them you are going to build credibility. Listening allows the upset people to vent their frustrations and allows you to hear what they believe the problems to be. It might also help to repeat what you are hearing just to make sure you understand the situation and prove that you hear what is being said. So instead of responding when emotions are high, listen and...

Gather the Facts
In order for any solution to be reached we must first get all of the available information so that a course of action can be reached. In some cases, it may be a good idea to...

Ask for Help
Getting through a crisis situation as a team or at least with one other person is much better than doing it by yourself.  Even if they aren't involved, bending the ear of someone you trust can help. The other people will help think of things you might miss. They can also lend their experience to the situation and help you be sure that everything is being thought of.  After all, isn't the ultimate goal to...

Decide On the Best Course of Action
You need to do the best you can with the resources and knowledge you have available to you at the time. In the end, your course of action may prove to be the wrong one but you will at least know that you did everything you could to make the right choices.