Judi.Perkins's blog

Thanks to Fisher-Price, as babies we learn a concept that we seem to forget by the time we’re adults: you can’t put a square peg in a round hole.

We do it especially with relationships and with jobs. If we don’t know what we’re looking for, we become obscured by what we’re attracted to. And then we don’t realize we’ve reverted to pounding the round orange peg into the hole on that plastic table right in front of us when it's the square blue peg that fits.

Most people will continue to force it – and with a lot of hard work, sweat, and stress – it can be made to fit, but never very well and never for very long. Eventually that peg is going to explode out of the hole into which they’re trying to mash it.

Ever been fired and it was a complete surprise? If you have, it shouldn’t have been. You missed the cues. Whether you created it or the company decided it, you lost control of your career. Frequently those two are intertwined, and if you don’t dissect the experience, you may recreate it.

A Gallup poll found that 77% of Americans hate their jobs. After 20 years as a recruiter, I don’t find that surprising because most people, before they begin their job hunt, don’t do the examination to learn what their perfect job is. Instead of defining, actively seeking, and then choosing their next employer, they allow themselves to be chosen. So it’s no wonder that after a few years -- or sooner – disillusion and distaste set in. This, combined with fear of change, creates what they wanted: to be outta that lousy place. In other words, if you don’t tune in, you’ll tune out, and then you’ll be gone.

Job seekers don’t always realize that the way in which they’re searching contributes to their lack of results. As we grow up, we’re often told to “shoot for the sky” or to “think big,” and so when it comes time to change jobs, we do. But sometimes that advice isn’t practical.

I see it most often when someone wants to make a change in industry or function, and their previous experience isn’t strong enough to get them noticed. A recent example of this is a client who had been progressing in finance, then realized that it bored her. Instead, she wanted the variety of consulting or project management, using analysis and numbers as her tools. So she began applying to the big, well-known consulting firms. And nothing happened.

What you'll find here - in all my writings and my client work with you - is a hugely different approach and one you won't find anywhere else. I know - we all say that, right?. But the essence of it is right here in this book, and if you get it and hate it and don't think it's worth it - let me know! I'll refund your money!

For those of you who read my blog, articles, newsletter and all that, you know that the one point I continually drive home is doing your homework prior to your job search. Because the usual way that a job search is undertaken is the resume is done, posted on job boards, sent out with some cover letters, and then the waiting begins. And people are often disappointed, and frequently stunned, when nothing much happens. They don't understand why.