Quick, What's the Answer?

April 3, 1998

Do you drift from job to job? Or are you in the midst of a career "transition"?

A couple of academics, Mildred Cahill and Sandra Martland spent 3 years studying career "drifters". (Perhaps they stuck to the "drifting" terminology because they were too busy studying to recognize that the term is now "transitioning"?)

Their results have implications for those of us who are excited by the prospect of change, who want to be part of new ventures, or who simply want a change of pace.

But, to be fair, before we chastise them too soundly for their limited viewpoint, let's look briefly at a part of the study.

They defined drifters as people who had finished high school at least 4 years ago who had made at least 3 changes in employment or courses within 10 years of graduation. But, when you look at that number, it's not bad, really. It means that people spent an average of 3+ years at each place. The recent standard seems to be about 8 years. And, in 1996, 17% of the people who left their jobs, did so to enter another field. according to the Center for Workplace Issues and Technology. Apparently, though, these figures and the rationale that created them weren't taken into consideration.

To help make a point about their study, they reviewed the literature about "drifters" and found there were 5 basic types:

• Personal/Psychological Drifters -- are chronically indecisive, have little or no self-esteem, and no opportunity to develop skills.
• Drifters by Necessity -- are those whose careers or industries have moved to new locations, but they haven't.
• Drifters by Occupation -- are those who work in seasonal or unstable occupations--this includes the self-employed.
• Multipotentialed Drifters -- have too many choices and don't really know what they want to do.
• Questing Drifters -- are after intrinsic rewards instead of money and may move from job to job just for the personal satisfaction the work brings.

What can you use it for? To communicate? To profess? To inform? To create? To teach? To build? To advertise? To network? To create partnerships? To build business? To grow a business? To.....

We'll Put You First

April 1, 1998

CareerPath wants your business.

They've been online for two years and their competition is growing. In fact, all the job sites want you. But, Career Path has caught on.

They realize that all the job sites are vying for the attention of the job hunters. Some sites are going as far as trying to treat their visitors as people rather than statistics.

And Career Path is doing just that. They want you to come, to browse, to stay, to find.

In addition to having more than 200,000 fresh jobs, it has added a set of services geared toward hunters. According to Renee LaBran, the company's interim CEO:

"The future of job hunting and recruiting on the Internet belongs to the company that can deliver a sufficiently large number of resumes and job listings, and then follow through by seamlessly matching like-minded employers and employees."

To that end, Career Path has added employer profiles so you can learn before you burn.

Even more delightful is their use of the new Junglee technology which means you save time. (To learn more about this dynamite new technology, see the 11/2/97 column in our sister newsletter Electronic Recruiting News.) Junglee makes it possible for you to search through several corporate Web site's offering job postings--without having to leave Career Path. Quite a nice touch since we like anything that saves us time and clicks.

Ready, Set, Jump

March 31, 1998

So, are you set to go it alone or with virtual partners? How will you start?

Once you've decided to give entrepreneurship, cyberpreneurship, or virtual partnering a try, pick a field where you're needed.

A Manpower survey cited in PR NewsWire says that companies will be more aggressive and creative in their recruiting efforts due to a shortage of labor. In particular, several industries were highlighted as needing additional workers.

• 38% of those involved in wholesale and retail trades need additional employees while only 7% expect to make cutbacks.
• 31% of durable goods manufacturers say they will add staff and just 7% will cut back.
• 26% of the educational sector expects to continue the hiring efforts begun last year, with only 4% reporting a decline in staffing.
• 23% of non-durable goods manufacturers and those involved in transportation and public utilities expect to need additional workers, while 7% expect to reduce their workforce.
• 24% of the service industry anticipates additional hiring with 7% believing a decline is in store.
• 21% of those polled in the finance, insurance, and real estate trade foresee a need to hire, while only 5% see cutbacks looming.
• 17% of the public administration sector plan to boost hiring; 9% plan to trim the rolls.

If you fit neatly into one of those categories, terrific. If not, find a way to mesh your abilities with the needs of one. Or look to see where they may overlap. Then take a look at the business links below to get you started.

• Entrepreneur's on the Web provides a lengthy list of links to entrepreneurial organizations, resources, assistance, and references.
• Cyberpreneur's Guide offers an alphabetical list of items of interest, as well. They include multiple newsgroups and mailing lists, as well as links to financial sites, the SBA, and credit agencies.
• The State University of New York offers a classic list of links focusing on small business startup information.

Virtual Partners

March 30, 1998

Cartoon characters like Dilbert have it relatively easy compared with workers in real life who are faced with cubicles, nasty bosses, ridiculous management fads, overtime, downsizing, and double-speak.

In their book, A Simpler Way, Meg Wheatley and Myron Kellner-Rogers, recognize that as individuals we work best when we "relied on the passion evoked when we connect to others, purpose to purpose. So many of us want to be more. So many of us hunger to discover who we might be together."

Are you better off than Dilbert? Do you experience that needed connection to others?

If so, wonderful. Read no further. If not, consider leaving. Go on your own.

After all, outsourcing is growing exponentially. In fact, 50% of the businesses in the Antelope and Santa Clarita, CA valleys expect to hire temporary employees this fall. And that's only one small part of the world.

Mind Tools poses questions to help you determine what it is you want out of life. Answer their questions. Think of all the pros and cons you can. Decide what it is that you want to do.

Then, consider virtual partnerships. Virtual partnerships unite you and other service providers in loose, on-line confederations to offer clients a centralized, one-stop source for their needs.

This is not an unusual concept. For instance, C Studio is looking for partners to create new outsourcing work groups. In particular, they're looking for people who are:

• organized and decisive
• loaded with interpersonal skills and unique salesmanship
• global learners
• able to handle numerous responsibilities or projects simultaneously
• entrepreneurial thinkers and doers
• ethical, trustworthy, knowledgeable about diversity and multi-cultural needs

Teamnet List is also looking. They want researchers, consultants, and businesspeople to build a network of people to discuss collaboration in business.

Or, consider asking your current employer about telecommuting. Telecommuting will allow you to work from home (at least some of the time). Although this may not be your best bet for a long term solution, it may ease some of the current pressure.

Talk to Citicorp Chase Manhattan Corp., and First Union Corp. (Or other financial institutions) who are among those allowing employees to work from home.

In any event, consider your options.

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