by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

The big day has finally arrived. Escape from Corporate America: A Practical Guide to Creating the Career of Your Dreams is in stores today. What are you waiting for?  :  )

 

Thank you to everyone who has been part of the adventure so far and has offered expertise, support, and/or feedback during the process. The writing and researching of  Escape from Corporate America was a labor of love and the focus of my life for more than three years. For years before that, Escape from Corporate America was the name of my own secret career plan that kept me sane while I did time in cubicles and conference rooms. So today has definitely been a long time coming.

 

I think the book is a great resource for anyone who feels stuck in an uninspiring career. It’s not just for people who are itching to escape…Escape from Corporate America also has lots of advice on finding a more satisfying career within Corporate America.

 

Want some unbiased opinions? Here are some of the cool things that other people have been saying about the book:

 

"With insight and humor, Skillings enumerates the stages of “Corporate Disillusionment” and the features of the “toxic workplace”—the bullying bosses, moronic co-workers, “terminal boredom” and rampant racism and sexism. A multitude of questionnaires, exercises and worksheets helps readers determine their dream job, assess expenses and assets, and plot an escape plan to break free of corporate life without going bankrupt….Vignettes of successful fugitives from the corporate world populate the book and an extremely useful “Escape Tool Kit” supplies information on where and how to find career coaches, health insurance, job listings and a wealth of other much needed resources when embarking on career change. Comprehensive, informative and witty, this book will be indispensable to those looking to start new careers with concrete plans and well-defined goals."

–- Publishers Weekly

“Escape from Corporate America isn’t just the best book ever written on creating the career of your dreams — it is the most stirring and useful book on careers that I’ve ever read. Pam Skillings inspired me first with her own story and then with stories who successfully escaped dreary, heartless, and sometimes nasty workplaces. This masterpiece will give you the skills to make the leap from a mind-numbing job to a great career and the courage to follow your heart.” – Robert Sutton, Stanford Professor and author of The No Asshole Rule

 

“This book might just change your life!” – Barbara Sher, best-selling author

 

“Pamela Skillings gives you the tools you need to take control of your career and have a more fulfilling life.”  – Beth Schoenfeldt, founder of Ladies Who Launch

 

Read more reviews of Escape from Corporate America

 

 

Popularity: 4%

by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

Flowers and jewelry make nice Mother’s Day presents, but a recent survey from CareerBuilder uncovered what working mothers really long for: more quality time with their families. In fact, many would be willing to trade a higher salary for a more flexible schedule.

 

The survey, which  reached out to 880 women who are employed full-time with children under the age of 18 living at home, discovered that:

• 43% of working moms said they would take a pay cut if it meant they could spend more time with their kids
• 34% said they would be willing to give up 10% or more of their salaries

 

You know that work/life balance issues have gotten serious when people are willing to give up a good chunk of their paychecks for some relief. According to the survey:

• 34% of working moms said they spend less than three hours per day with their children

• 24% said work had negatively impacted the relationships they have with their children
• 27% had missed two or more significant events in their child’s life in the last year
• 17% reported they had missed three or more
• 16% of working moms reported bringing work home at least three days a week

 

For many of these working mothers, a little bit more flexibility would make a whole lot of difference. The good news is that CareerBuilder.com has also found that more and more companies are recognizing the importance of offering options like telecommuting and flexible work schedules. 

 

If you’re struggling to balance the demands of work and parenthood, keep in mind that there may be ways to negotiate a more flexible schedule at the office. Even if your company doesn’t advertise the availability of these work arrangements, you may be able to work something out with your manager. The key is to approach it as a business conversation and look for compromises that will give you more flexibility for family demands without leaving your company in the lurch.

 

And if your current company doesn’t see the value of supporting work/life balance, there are other companies out there that do. To find them, start by checking out the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For (in particular, see the companies ranked highest for work/life balance, telecommuting and other benefits) and the Working Mother Top Companies rankings.

 

 

Popularity: 5%

by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

Guest blogger Heather Johnson has some great advice on common career change mistakes and how to avoid them.

 

If you’re ready to take the plunge and shift your career, then you’re bound to be feeling a bit vulnerable.  As you make your transition, you will likely experience a myriad of  emotions including anger, anxiety, stress, excitement and terror.  With all of these emotions running wild, wrong turns sometimes start to look like good ideas  To minimize stress during your career change,  avoid these six common mistakes:

 

1.    Not having a plan in place.  Even if you have a clearly thought-out strategy to shift your career, it can still take a couple of months to complete.  If you just up and quit your current job with no plan in place, you may be facing an even longer and more stressful transition period. 

 

2.    Changing your career because you hate your job.  Don’t mix up your career with your job.  It may be that you’re at the wrong company but not in the wrong profession.  Don’t let a bad job make you rethink your career path.  Figure out if it’s your job or your career that you hate before making a drastic move.

 

3.    Making a change just for the money.  Remember the old adage that money can’t buy happiness when you feel lured by dollar signs toward a different career.  Even if a different profession inherently offers more money than your current field, be careful about switching for money alone.  If you switch and hate your new career, you’ll be spending that extra money to relieve your newfound stress.

 

4.    Changing careers due to pressure from others.  If you like your job and make a reasonable living, then you shouldn’t change your job because of what others have to say about it.  Your parents, spouse or friends don’t have to go to your job every day.  While you can certainly respect their opinions, don’t let those opinions dictate your career choices.

 

5.    Changing careers because someone you know is successful.  It’s human nature to compare yourself to your friends and family members.  But don’t make a hasty career change because you’re envious of the success a friend has had in a given field.  Put your competitive impulses aside and think about whether you would truly be happy in your friend’s shoes. 

 

6.    Searching for a new career without honing your skills.  Before you take the plunge and actually change your career, take the proper time to prepare. Do your homework on the field you’re interested in and seek out any additional training or knowledge you will need.  Make sure your resume is up to date and presents your qualifications in the best possible light.  Practice interviewing with friends and start building your network.

 

This article is contributed by Heather Johnson, who regularly writes on the topic of career exploration. She invites you to email her with questions and writing job opportunities.

 

Popularity: 7%

by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

This past week, 30 Rock’s ultimate company man Jack Donaghy rebelled against his banishment to the 12th floor by quitting his corporate job at NBC/GE/The Sheinhardt Wig Company/The Ahp Chanagi Party Meats Corporation of Pyongyang, North Korea. 

 

Jack’s new gig is for the Department of Homeland Security. I’m sure that will end well.

 

 

At least he’ll always have that cool goodbye collage that his assistant made for him.

 

 

The Sheinhardt Wig Company: "Not Poisoning Rivers Since 1997."

 

Popularity: 8%

by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

Okay, so I just finished watching Oprah’s "I Hate My Job Interventions" show with Marcus Buckingham. How cool is it that I actually found a work-related reason to watch an episode of Oprah?

 

Because I know those of you with corporate jobs  don’t have the luxury of watching Oprah whenever you feel like it (I felt a little guilty about taking the time away from my computer myself),  I’ll provide a little recap before I wrap up work and run out to enjoy a little bit of this beautiful day in New York City.

 

Here’s your "executive summary."

 

• Oprah kicked off the show by citing a CareerBuilder survey that found that 84% of U.S. workers are unhappy in their jobs. This represents an even higher level of job dissatisfaction than those I found while researching my book (though I did find that up to 80% of corporate workers fantasized about leaving their jobs).

 

• According to Marcus Buckingham, only a little more than one in ten workers say they actually have the opportunity to use their strengths at work.

 

• There were four women profiled. All were struggling with different job dilemmas.
  • Vanessa, a pharmaceutical sales rep, said she disliked her job and the fact that it left so little time for her daughter. "I feel overwhelmed, underappreciated, and overworked." Marcus Buckingham coached her to get better at saying no to work projects and turning off her computer between 5PM and 8PM to focus on her daughter.
  • Ayesha said her job made her feel "tortured all the time" and that she loathed all of the job duties she performed on a daily basis. Marcus Buckingham coached her on how to build a bridge to a career that would better utilize her strengths.
  • Rachel was a teacher who was overwhelmed by the demands of her job. Marcus Buckingham coached her on how to make time for activities that re-energized her — like walking her dogs.
  • Beth was under extreme stress in a job that she didn’t feel qualified for. Because she worked for her husband’s company, she didn’t feel like she could walk away from the job without damaging the relationship. Marcus Buckingham advised her to have a conversation with her husband about changing her job responsibilities.
  • Good advice for all four women: Don’t bury your dream under mountains of "shoulds" and "have tos"

 

 

• The bottom line, according to Oprah and Marcus, is that your real job in life is to find out why you are here. In order to make any kind of lasting contribution, your job must "feed"  you in some way.

 
 

 

Popularity: 21%

by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

I just saw a  preview for tomorrow’s Oprah show and am very excited because the subject is near and dear to my heart. The topic is I Hate My Job Interventions and the featured guest is Marcus Buckingham, author of the excellent Now, Discover Your Strengths.

 

 

Based on the results of a poll on Oprah.com, many of Oprah’s viewers could really use an intervention. The poll asks: "Are you happy in your job?" And as of this writing, 82.9% of 1995 respondents said No. Go add your vote and see the latest results.

 

 

As the blurb on Oprah.com says,  "Don’t waste another second in a job you hate." I couldn’t agree more and am eager to see if Oprah and Marcus will swoop into the cubicles of the disgruntled and downtrodden to save them from  their  miserable careers.

 

 

Marcus Buckingham’s theory is that the key to career happiness is to identify and focus on your greatest talents and strengths. The problem is that many of us have forgotten what those talents are or have never had the opportunity to really use them. I think everyone can benefit from his advice on how to understand and develop your key strengths. Buckingham is offering a free online course on the subject on Oprah.com right now if you want to learn more.

 

If you’re a career changer or contemplating an escape from Corporate America, I suggest you set your Tivo for this show tomorrow for a dose of advice and inspiration.  I’ll also be posting a review and recap here for those who miss it.

 

Popularity: 17%

by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

Think a shaky economy means it’s too risky to make a career change? Think again. In fact, now may be the perfect time to make your move.

 

After all, long-term job market forecasts project severe labor shortages ahead as Baby Boomers continue to retire or scale back their careers in record numbers. While short-term job prospects don’t look quite as cheery, that doesn’t mean that opportunities don’t exist or that you’re stuck in job purgatory for the duration.

 

If you’ve been feeling unhappy in your current career, there’s no time like the present to kick-start your career change and position yourself for years of future success. Here’s why:

 

1) Your current job is not secure.

 

 

 

You may be tempted to grit your teeth and cling to your current position until the economic forecasts start to look sunnier. In today’s workforce, that’s a dangerous strategy. When an 80+-year-old Wall Street institution like Bear Stearns can disappear practically overnight, no job is truly secure. It doesn’t really matter how good you are at your job or how much boss butt you kiss.

 

If you have been contemplating a career change, there’s no good reason to put it off until the unemployment rate falls again. I’m not suggesting that you make any rash moves like quitting before you’re financially ready, but you can start developing your career change strategy now. Get started on the homework you need to do while you’re still collecting your paycheck. Update your resume, step up your networking, explore your options, and develop your skills.

 

You will be taking a career risk whether you resign yourself to staying in the job you hate or start moving toward the job you’ll love. Why not put your energies into the risk that could have the biggest reward?

 

Put your career change in motion now, even if it’s only taking baby steps in your spare time. Not only will you be ready to launch your dream career that much sooner, you will also be better prepared just in case your name pops up on one of those downsizing lists unexpectedly.

 

 

2.    Plenty of companies are hiring right now.

 

 

 

The overall job forecasts may look bleak at the moment, but that doesn’t mean that nobody’s hiring. There have been a flurry of articles about “recession-proof jobs”  in the media lately.  The fields that are expected to stay strong despite a possible recession include education, energy, health care, environmental careers, and international business. That doesn’t mean that you should flee blindly to these professions if they don’t inspire you. However, if your dream career is connected to any of these growing industries, you may find it fairly easy to make a move. 

 

Lots of other companies in all industries are also hiring. Yes, there are fewer job openings than there were at this time last year. Then again, you only need one good one. It may take a little bit longer to land a great position, but there’s no reason to abandon all hope.

 

3.    But if you really want job security, you have to work for yourself. 

 

 

When you work for yourself, you never have to worry about getting fired. Today, just about anybody with a computer and an Internet connection can start a business. You can even keep your day job if you want to (or need to for financial reasons while you build your business).

 

Of course, you’ll have to be prepared to put in some work. Running a successful business is no cakewalk and entrepreneurship may not be the right career move for everyone. However, it’s definitely the best way to go if you really want to live by your wits. You’ll have to find your own clients, manage your own time, and pay for your own bagels. But you’ll never be at the complete mercy of one boss or one company ever again.

 

 

4.    Living in fear isn’t healthy.

 

 

When layoff rumors start flying, it’s easy to get caught up in worry and speculation. We gossip about who deserves to go, we curse the stupid managers who got us into this mess to begin with, and we waste a lot of time on scary worst-case scenarios. If it goes on too long, this can sabotage your job performance and have an impact on your mental and physical health.

 

The best thing to do to stop the madness is channel your energy into something constructive – like preparing for your career change. You’ll be amazed at how much better you’ll feel once you’ve taken charge of the situation and are actively working toward your next career move.

 

 

5.    Sometimes you need someone to light a fire under your ass.

 

 

Apologies if that sounds harsh. But the truth is that lots of people stay stuck for years in careers that are uninspiring or downright miserable. Why? Because it never gets quite bad enough to force them to make a move. I know I stayed in my corporate career for a good couple of years longer than I should have because of my belief that “it could be worse.” Nice words to live by, huh?

 

A layoff or the threat of layoffs could be just the spark you need to get moving on the career change that you’ve been fantasizing about for a while. I can’t tell you how many people I know who felt overcome with relief after getting served with pink slips. They had been ready to leave for a while, but just hadn’t been able to work up the nerve to walk away on their own.   

 

6.    You can turn a layoff into a stroke of luck.

 

 

That’s not to say that I take layoffs lightly. I know how devastating it can be to lose your job when you’re unprepared financial and/or emotionally. I’ve been in that position and it’s not a lot of fun. Not at first, at least.

 

That’s why I think it’s so important to get moving on your career change plans now, no matter what the economists are saying. Then, even if the layoff fairy visits before you’re 100% ready to leave, you’ll still be several steps ahead of the average job-hunter. 

 

In fact, if you do your homework and prepare for your career change in your spare time, you might soon find yourself longing for a layoff. After all, a good severance package can give you a nice head start on your new career if you’re adequately prepared. Even some of us who weren’t perfectly prepared have managed to leverage severance packages as start-up funds for our new careers.

 

7.    There’s never a perfect time to change careers.

 

 

 
The bottom line is that there will never be a perfect time for a career change. The perfect opportunity will never just fall into your lap. You will never achieve anything great without at least a little bit of risk and some hard work.

 

If you are unhappy in your current career, it’s worth taking a calculated risk. And it’s better to start now than to waste more of the best days of your life stuck in a dreary job hoping for the right moment to come along.  

 

 

Popularity: 22%

by Pamela Skillings      Send to a friend

There’s an interesting article on Yahoo! (by way of AllBusiness.com) titled  5 Ways to Keep Your Job During a Recession.

 

There are a lot of articles like this one popping up, so it’s pretty clear that people are feeling job security anxiety these days. And this piece features some good advice. It’s always a good idea to boost your visibility (in positive ways only, of course) and marketability. Another tip that wasn’t mentioned — focus on maintaining a strong relationship with your boss (and, ideally, your boss’s boss) and make sure he/she knows about all of the valuable things that you do. Make sure that decision makers are aware of the value that you provide to the company.

 

However, I think the most valuable advice comes in the conclusion of the article: "And, because there’s no guarantee that you will retain your job in a recession, no matter how hard you try, it doesn’t hurt to be prepared. On your own time, update your resume. Also, make sure that you are still networking with old bosses, coworkers, and business contacts. Don’t wait until you are laid off to keep your contacts and resume fresh. You will get better results if you are prepared ahead of time."

 

Amen. The bottom line  is that there is no way to control whether you’ll keep your job during a recession or even during a strong economy. Today, all corporations go through layoffs and it’s hard to predict when or how they are going to happen. It’s not only companies in underperforming sectors that lay people off. You can waste a lot of time and energy worrying about layoffs that would be better spent preparing to minimize any negative fallout if it does happen.

 

I don’t mean to be a Debbie Downer, but I think people should keep in mind that strong performance is no guarantee that you’ll stick around. I have seen many valuable employees get laid off and many slackers survive job cuts. I have wasted many hours gossiping about layoff rumors, speculating about the safety of my job, and ostentatiously "adding value" in every meeting to show how indispensable I was. All of that while I could have been working on my resume.

 

The truth is that layoff decisions are often made for reasons that have nothing to do with performance. Sometimes an entire department is laid off or just the people who make the highest salaries in a certain group.

 

That’s why you can’t ever take it personally. Future employers know that getting laid off is no reflection on your value as an employee or a person. In fact, most job candidates at this point can probably boast at least one lay-off on their resumes.

 

So yes, you should keep performing well. This is no time to slack off. But stop gossiping, worrying, and biting your nails. Instead, use your spare time to step up your passive job search efforts and start looking for your next position. Even if you don’t end up needing a new job, it’s always a good idea to keep your options open.

 

Popularity: 21%