Dazzling Past Performance, MBA from Ivy: You May Never Work Again, Unless ...

A stunner, at least to them. But not to us coaches in the trenches.

The middle-aged knowledge worker with blockbuster experience and an advanced degree from a top school becomes a "chronic unemployed." That is, without work for at least six months. They don't understand why they haven't been hired, even in the current challenging job market. They tell their stories over and over again on Reddit. 

There is an obvious why they haven't picked up on what's going down.

The short version of that is this: Their parents didn't endure the work conditions in The Great Depression. A Boomer, mine did. By time I was born the post-WWII boom economy was starting to kick in. So, yes, their options for earning a living had improved. But, they never stopped talking non-stop how brutal it had been. All of them had, because of their experience, evolved into hollowed-out human beings.

What they had to put up with to get and hold work mirrors much of the ethos of the being employed now that employers have the upper hand. Do they ever.

So, if you present yourself as overall special - and you're not the only fit for a certain position - the assumption is that you will expect special treatment, including what the compensation will be. For some top jobs that might be the way to showcase yourself. But in general you might never work again.

So, the word among hardened job seekers is this: Downplay the amazing background. Yes, remove some of the prestige accounts you have handled. The MBA? It's irrelevant since you should have been using those skills for years and hopefully outgrown some of the knowledge base which has become outdated. BTW, it's sometimes a liability in even entry-level jobs. Employers prefer those with the undergraduate business degree.

In addition, there is the fear that if you are that good you could take their job. 

In the tarot, the first card is the one symbolizing risk. It's risk which dominates much of our lives. The peril is great, as, of course, also the reward.



Did Brad Karp, then chair of law firm Paul, Weiss, size up the risk in poaching Scott Barshay from Cravath in 2016? Over and over again, it had been reported, Barshay claimed he didn't want the chairman job. Well, in a coup in which he participated Barshay got that job. Karp was out as leader. He is returning to full-time lawyering at the firm. Was the business Barshay brought in worth it? 

In general, it is wise for middle-aged job searchers to dig beneath the surface of the job description, what the organization claims it is looking for, how the leaders present themselves, what happened to previous incumbents and more. Who do they really want to hire? Then put together that package. 

In addition, there is the old adage, created by Richard Bolles, creator of the career guide series "What Color Is Your Parachute." He observes that the person who gets the job is not necessarily the most qualified. It's usually the one best at how to get a job.

How to get a job at the present time probably entails a case-by-case assessment of customizing yourself for that very specific opportunity.

Full Disclosure: After my sector collapsed post-9/11 I needed a survival job. I removed from the resume all but the BA. From my days growing up with Depression-Era parents and in the hood I knew to conceal much of my intelligence. I was hired on the spot on contract. Within two months I was on the full-time payroll, with benefits. Deferring to others the opportunity to star continues to get me what I need to earn a living.  To save Chrysler from bankruptcy, Lee Iacocca hired B-level players. He knew the inherent flaws of the A-ones.

Success is a mental game. Failure comes from being done in by the “committee” in your head.

Together, we liberate your thinking. Then we change your story. And, unleash success. Meanwhile, we focus on bringing in income. That puts you in a position of strength.

Intuitive Coaching. Special expertise with transitions, becoming a solopreneur and aging. Psychic/tarot readings, upon request. Complimentary consultation with Jane Genova (Text 203-468-8579, janegenova374@gmail.com). Yes, test out the chemistry. Zero risk.

Don’t give up before the miracle.


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