Monday, November 8, 2010

Three career myths that matter today... and the grains of truth within

With unemployment still high, many professionals set adrift from previously apparently stable jobs and new grads pounding the pavement (or the keyboard) looking for work until their shoes wear thin (or their fingers hurt), contemporary "wisdom" about careers deserves a hard second look.

The myth: Do what you love and the money will follow. Oh, please. We may all wish it were true. The fact is, you can love doing something a lot, but if there's no demand for your service, your product, art, or ideas, and you can't build that demand... the money, most assuredly, will NOT follow.

The grain of truth: Your enthusiasm for your work likely means you'll work harder and do a better job than you'd do if unenthused. Good performance obviously contributes to success. Plus, your own energy communicates and helps create enthusiasm in others around you. Nonetheless, don't quit your day job to market those handpainted dog bowls... not yet.

The myth: There is no loyalty among employers toward their employees. Especially in businesses in which you are "more than a number," your dedication, abilities and contributions do count. Decisions about promotions and raises are flavored by employers' regard for hard-working staff and their feelings. What's more, many employers do agonize over layoffs and even terminations "for cause".

The grain of truth: It's business. When it comes down to brass tacks, employers and managers have to look at the bottom line, at trends and at your performance. Loyalty will not trump business considerations in most cases. And in some big companies, decisions about your future are made by number crunchers who don't know you from Adam.

The myth: You need to decide early on what you're going to do with your life, career-wise. Really? One of my associates went to medical school in her 40s, another to law school, and both started successful second careers. Another began as a commercial photographer and made a 180 degree turn to a long and rewarding career in public service.

The grain of truth: It's great to head off to college with a major and a career path in mind, or to get a first job that sets you on a ladder to dizzying heights. There are other ways to go, but they can be more difficult. According to a recent Wall Street Journal article, career changes today "can entail major costs in retraining and pay cuts – plus, in the current job climate, the risk of not finding employment." While this sounds unappealing, staying in a stultifying career for, oh, 30 to 40 years, could be a lot worse. Bottom line: it's your life, and you want it to be as fulfilling as possible.