I've been at my current employer for just over 2 years. Life can be frustrating but with this economy - I'm happy to have a job, happy to have health insurance, happy to have this bunch of stuff to deal with however much I complain and lament.I have been listening to a fellow who I see about every day at my train station. When he found out I did project management, he sounded like he was interested in such work. He talked a bit more about what he had done and I suggested he forward his resume to me. Our train was late one day so he said he would drive into the City and suggested we continue talking about careers.
When I saw his resume - I knew what others had said when they read mine. Mine reads like an avalanche of skills and experience. The average person expects to see a very narrow set of skills and experience that can help them know what you can do and what you might be capable of doing. I have had 2 maybe 3 distinct sets of work I have done - and when I actually apply for a job, I limit what I tell people. My young friend's resume read like a mystery. What have you done and why do you think you should be able to manage a project?
Today I met up with the guy again and still I hear that he wants to get involved in gaming. Not making games, not selling games, but maybe pre-selling. He is now going to start a job helping an insurance broker get leads via cold calls and e-mails...but he is not a sales person.
My point is - I listened to what we all sound like sometimes when we very much need a job - but are not ready to sell ourselves. We may end up sounding like a jack of all trades; master of none. This isn't going to help us out of a rut, into a job, and helping this economy along.
Have a plan. Know what your'e good at and know what you want. Get some feedback on your resume. Be good at a few things and let your resume tell a story that someone can look at and know how to place you.
If you don't know what you want; know what you're good at. Get a personality assessment and find out what you might be good at.
