Written by Pamela Skillings

Everybody knows how important networking is for your career, right? Well, most people may intellectually KNOW that they should be networking, but I am continually amazed that so many refuse to actually do it. And these are smart people. They just happen to be smart people who loathe the idea of walking into a room full of strangers with nothing but a name badge and a nervous smile.

But in today’s job market, networking is not just important. It’s critical. There is more competition for every opening and you need more than a great resume. It’s not enough to spend your days stalking the job boards (in fact, it’s a quick way to lose your mind if you don’t step away and talk to real humans once in a while).

So why are so many job searchers still stubbornly avoiding networking? I got a new sense of the level of resistance out there at a recent event for job hunters at The New York Public Library. I conducted several 20-minute “speed career coaching” sessions over the course of the day and spoke with people at many different career stages — from recent grads to seasoned industry vets.

They all had one thing in common — all said that they knew they should be networking more, but just couldn’t bring themselves to do it. They all needed to step up their networking games. And I hope they all will take my advice to step out of their comfort zones and start connecting and reconnecting.

Obviously, I’m not the only one telling them that networking is important. I recently saw a study that quantified the value of a strong professional network. According to research by Pepperdine University and Upwardly Mobile Inc., 70% of executives credit networking for their current jobs (compared to just 16% who credit job listings). And most aren’t even networking well — 75% said that they spend fewer than two hours per week on networking and focus on the wrong things.

So how can you become a better networker? Upwardly Mobile, the company behind the study cited above, has actually developed a nifty little web-based tool to help you. UpMo.com is currently in beta and I recently had the opportunity to test it out so I can give you the scoop.
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Written by Pamela Skillings

If you’re in or near New York City and could use some free job search support, you’re in luck.  I am one of several career coaches who will be volunteering time next Tuesday at a great free event for job hunters in midtown Manhattan.

Back to Work: Jumpstart Your Job Search is sponsored by The New York Public Library and Vault.com. You can attend free workshops featuring advice from recruiters and Vault.com resume experts. You can also register for a free 20-minute career coaching or resume feedback session.

If you’re interested in a free coaching or feedback session, please RSVP ASAP. There is a limited number of spots and they may be filled prior to Tuesday.  I hope to see you there!

Back to Work: Jumpstart Your Job Search
When: Tuesday, January 27, 2009. 10:30AM-4:00PM
Where: Science, Business, and Industry Library. 188 Madison Avenue at 34th Street, New York, NY
Admission: FREE

Written by Pamela Skillings

Today, I am participating in the national day of service to commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday. The King Day of Service was initiated by Congress in 1994. And thanks to a special call to service by President-elect Obama, today is the biggest King Day of Service ever, with more than 12,000 volunteer projects taking place nationwide.  

In fact, I have heard from several readers of my About.com Manhattan blog that it was hard to find a project in New York that still needed volunteers because of the overwhelming response.  That’s fantastic news. I hope we can keep that spirit alive long after MLK Day and the excitement of this week’s inauguration festivities have passed.

One way to do that is to find a new volunteering opportunity that inspires you and make a long-term commitment today. For those currently seeking a new job or trying to navigate a career change, there are benefits to volunteering above and beyond the joys of helping others. 

Those who have read Escape from Corporate America know that I highly recommend volunteering as a career change strategy. You can gain valuable experience and make great networking contacts while you make a difference for a cause you care about. I know many job searchers who have found new positions through connections made through nonprofit work. New entrepreneurs have similarly found potential clients, partners, and mentors. I also know many who have leveraged volunteering to strengthen their resumes, which has helped them  position themselves for new jobs or whole new careers. 

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Written by Pamela Skillings

Today, you get two daring tales of corporate escape from the amazing husband and wife team of Christi Smith Scofield and Ted Scofield (Christi gets first billing because I met her first). 

Christi is the President and Founder of PFF Entertainment, the company that makes the party game Sexy Slang and lots of other fun products, and Ted is both the firm’s COO and a talented novelist.

Sexy Slang is a combination of charades and Pictionary, featuring racy PG-13 slang terms. It’s a great way to break the ice at a party and expand your vocabulary at the same time.  When she came up with the idea, Christi was a technology sales executive with  no experience creating or manufacturing games, but she believed in her idea. It inspired her in a way that her corporate job never had. So she started working on the game in her spare time and named her new company PFF  (Project Financial Freedom) Entertainment, looking forward to the day when she could leave her day job.

Today, Christi’s day job is history and Sexy Slang is sold in more than 1,000 stores and has inspired a line of apparel and other games. You can read more about Christi’s success story  in her Escape Artist of the Month profile.

Meanwhile, Christi’s husband Ted was cheering her on all the way. He left his job as a high-powered corporate attorney to help her run the company and pursue his passion for writing. You will be seeing Ted’s first novel on bookstore shelves soon (I can’t say more right now, but am looking forward to announcing the details when it’s time to go public).

Christi and Ted had some major advantages beyond being bright, creative, and resourceful (as all entrepreneurs must be). Both also gained valuable business experience in the corporate world, which helped them navigate the challenges of manufacturing, licensing, distribution, and marketing (to name just a few).

They also had each other.  Each has put in countless hours of time and energy to support the other’s dream — through hard work, moral support, and evangelism. If you can find a partner like that, you’ve got a priceless resource (thanks to my husband Alex, I feel fortunate to speak from experience on this one). Even in the face of financial insecurity and obstacles, you’ve got a valuable asset.

I asked Christi and Ted my standard five questions for corporate escape artists and they shared their his-and-hers advice.

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Written by Pamela Skillings

A US Airways jet crash landed into the Hudson River just off of Manhattan yesterday in 20-degree weather and everyone survived. Pilot Chesley B. “Sully” Sullenberger, III was the first pilot in 45 years to manage a crash water landing with no fatalities, according to The Daily News. Talk about a guy who is good at his job.

I was among the many New Yorkers who was terrified after hearing  the first reports about a commercial jet crashing into the Hudson. These stories rarely have happy endings. But thanks to Mr. Sullenberger and the rescuers who braved icy cold water and freezing temperatures, all 155 passengers are safe and sound today.

The Daily News is lauding Sullenberger as “the hero of the Hudson” on today’s cover. Interestingly, Sullenberger is not just a pilot, he is also an entrepreneur. I suspect that his consulting firm, Safety Reliability Methods, will benefit from the publicity surrounding his heroics.   Plus, I think I can safely predict a TV movie starring Jon Voight as Sullenberger in the very near future.

It’s nice to know that miracles really can happen. So keep that in mind the next time you’re feeling low.

On a totally unrelated note…
I have to mention that my podcast interview with Peter Clayton at Total Picture Radio was posted yesterday. If you’ve ever listened to Peter’s interviews, you know he has a knack for asking interesting questions. We chatted about the end of the age of the employee, what to do when you’re blindsided by a layoff, advice on finding a job or starting a business in this economy, and much more.  Check it out.

Written by Pamela Skillings

If you’re tired of waiting around for the job market to improve, for hiring managers to get back to you, for a decent position to show up on Monster.com, it may be time to seize control and see what kind of job you can create for yourself.

For years, I have been writing about the joys of escaping from Corporate America to find more fulfilling work. The best decision that I ever made was to walk away from my six-figure financial services job to start my own business.

Of course, that was in 2005. In 2008, many of those who left Corporate America did not do it by choice. They were pushed off the corporate ladder and felt lucky if they got a severance package to cushion the fall.

And now, many feel like they have been banished from Corporate America for good. There are far fewer jobs for far more applicants than ever before, especially on Wall Street (where many of my friends and coaching clients were superstars for years before getting laid off).

In this job market, many feel lucky to have jobs that they hate because at least they’re collecting pay checks. Others are willing to take whatever position they can get until the economy improves.

Does all of this mean that job satisfaction is an outdated luxury? That you should give up hope of finding fulfilling work?

NO. Yes, a recession is absolutely a tough time to find a job or make a career change. Yes, you may need to make some sacrifices to pay your bills through the downturn. But you don’t have to give up on your dreams forever.

Now is the time to take control of your career and start running it like a business. In fact, now may be the perfect time to start running your own business.

You don’t have to line up millions in venture funding. You don’t have to give up on your job hunt to explore entrepreneurship. You can start a business on the side in your spare time from your computer. After all, that’s how a lot of us managed to make successful escapes from Corporate America — by starting our businesses on the side and doing some ethical moonlighting.

You can launch a business as a consultant or freelancer today — all you need is the talent that you already possess and the confidence to go out and sell it. Or you can think much bigger. Some of the greatest (and wealthiest) entrepreneurs in history left Corporate America to pursue their dreams.

You can potentially start bringing in revenue right away. Maybe you’ll decide to ditch your job search and focus on your business full-time. Or maybe you’ll just keep it going until the market improves and you land the job of your dreams.

Haven’t you always wondered what it would be like to work for yourself? Now may be the perfect time to find out. In fact, many of the entrepreneurs that I interviewed for Escape from Corporate America started their successful businesses after they were laid off during the last downturn. Some of them did it because they were able to use their severance packages to pay the bills during the first, lean months of entrepreneurship. Some of them were fueled by anger over getting laid off and vowed to never be at the mercy of bad managers again. Still others found that unemployment finally gave them some time to really think about what they wanted to do with their lives.

I’m not saying that entrepreneurship is an easy out for frustrated job hunters. To make your own business work, you will have to put in a lot of sweat. However, all of that sweat will go into building something real. The rewards can be life changing.

2009 may just be the year that you discover a new purpose and show the world what you can do. And who knows? You may someday look back on being banished from Corporate America as a gift.

Written by Pamela Skillings

I’m back at my desk after three fascinating and exhausting days of training. I was there for a deeper understanding of the Myers Briggs Personality Indicator (MBTI) instrument, which many of my clients have found to be extremely valuable in helping to clarify career and work style preferences.

And even though I thought there was nothing left to learn about my own career preferences and drivers (I have taken pretty much every assessment out there, and have completed the MBTI three times previously, as part of my training and certifications), I did have a few a-ha moments about the way I do things and why. I also met some very cool people.

I have a lot more to say about the MBTI and career planning, but I’ll save it for another post (I still need a little time to process all those new insights). In the meantime, I’ve got a few media opportunities and updates to share:

1. Are you a corporate escapee with a new business? A reporter for a major newspaper is doing a story on making the leap from Corporate America to entrepreneurship. She is interested in interviewing new entrepreneurs who left Corporate America recently. Would you be interested in sharing your story with the world? Email me with more information about you, your business, and your escape.

2. Are you a New Yorker with a gym membership? For About.com, I’m working on a story about the best New York City gyms at all price points and I need your opinion! Please share your thoughts on what you love and hate about your current gym and/or ex-gym. I will keep all opinions anonymous unless you specify that you don’t mind being quoted. Check out my About.com blog post for specific questions and more information. I’m looking for as many diverse perspectives as possible, so please consider forwarding the link to your friends.

3. What have you learned lately? I am a big believer in making learning and training a top priority — even when budgets are tight. Coincidentally, while I was sitting in the classroom on Monday, I got an email that Mark over at Productivity501.com posted a great round-up of blogger advice on the importance of learning new things (I’m quoted along with some of my favorite bloggers). You might have to get a little more creative and find ways to learn on the cheap until the economy improves, but there are lots of free and low-cost books, webinars, teleclasses, events, and classes out there. What’s the best free or low-cost training tool that you’ve discovered? I’m working on a new list of the best resources and would appreciate your input.

Written by Pamela Skillings

To help you celebrate Thanksgiving, here is a new and improved version of my post from last Turkey Day — a call to express thanks for the good things in your life, which is especially important in the midst of our current economic rough patch.

Forget about all of the pilgrim crap. The best way to think about Thanksgiving is as a time to express gratitude for all of the great things in your life — your friends, your family, your health, your access to massive quantities of poultry and pumpkin pie.

And don’t forget to say a little thanks to the universe or your deity of choice for your job if you’ve got one. You’re probably rolling your eyes right now if you’re stuck in a stressful or mind-numbing corporate job. Or if you’ve been recently downsized or restructured or otherwise unceremoniously shown the door by your corporate overlords.

But trust me, there are plenty of things to be grateful for if you really think about it:

Give Thanks for Your Paycheck — If you’re collecting regular paychecks or severance payments, you’re doing better than a lot of people. That’s not to say that you should settle for a job that’s only about the paycheck or avoid taking risks to find more fulfilling work. You can have both a paycheck and a meaningful career. And you will.

Give Thanks for All That You’ve Learned — Your experience in Corporate America has made you wiser. You have learned valuable business skills, developed a network of helpful contacts, and built a resume. You’ve also learned a lot about what you DON’T want to do for a living. All of these things will come in handy in your dream career — whether it’s starting your own business, becoming a third-grade teacher, or writing the Great American Novel. Yes, your bosses can always lay you off but they can never take away any of that hard-earned experience or your talents, skills, or wisdom.

Give Thanks for the Fire Under Your Ass — Sometimes, people need to be miserable in order to find the motivation to change. If you know anything about Joseph Campbell’s hero’s journey or have seen a few Hollywood films, you know that the hero must go through crisis in order to achieve victory. A wise woman in one of my writing workshops put it this way — "a character doesn’t change unless you light a fire under his ass." What this means for you is that you will probably never take a leap until you feel flames on the seat of your pants. That fire could be the burning passion for your new career or it could be the slow, smoldering misery and/or frustration of a job that doesn’t inspire you. Whatever your inspiration, if you find yourself giving thanks for a brilliant new career by next Thanksgiving, you have that fire under your ass to thank.

Give Thanks for a Day Off — Most good corporate citizens in the U.S. get a paid day off for Thanksgiving. Many even get two (say thanks twice in this case). And if you’ve been laid off, look at it this way: You can do whatever you want for Thanksgiving and you don’t have to clear your plans with any boss this year. Take a break from the job search and do what so many terminated executives say they’re going to do — spend more time with your family. Or ditch your family if they’re a pain in the butt and spend time with people who are more supportive. Eat well and wear loose-fitting clothing.

And I want to thank you for reading this blog and sharing your thoughts and feedback. I am deeply grateful to everyone who has supported me over the last year as I published my first book and started a new and exciting chapter in my career. So many people shared their advice and expertise and helped me spread the word about Escape from Corporate America. A sincere thank you to each and every one of you…and you know who you are.

Written by Pamela Skillings

The World Future Society has released ten fearless forecasts for 2009 and beyond. If these predictions come to pass, they will mean major changes in our work lives and how we manage our careers.

1. Everything You Say and Do Will Be Recorded by 2030. “By the late 2010s, ubiquitous unseen nanodevices will provide seamless communication and surveillance among all people everywhere. Humans will have nanoimplants, facilitating interaction in an omnipresent network.” This is the terrifying one, at least from my perspective. It’s bad enough that our emails are recorded. Soon we will have to worry about every stupid thing we say coming back to haunt us someday.

2.  Careers, and the college majors for preparing for them, are becoming more specialized. “Instead of simply majoring in business, more students are beginning to explore niche majors such as sustainable business, strategic intelligence, and entrepreneurship. Other unusual majors that are capturing students’ imaginations: neuroscience and nanotechnology, computer and digital forensics, and comic book art.” I like the idea of colleges and companies offering more diverse opportunities for people to find work that they love. And I love the idea of being able to major in comic book art. I do worry a little bit that super-specialization can make it easier to get trapped in the wrong narrow niche. A focus on career specialization should be accompanied by plenty of support in exploring your options before you commit to a course of study.

3.  Professional knowledge will become obsolete almost as quickly as it’s acquired. “Most professions will require continuous instruction and retraining. Rapid changes in the job market and work-related technologies will necessitate job education for almost every worker. At any given moment, a substantial portion of the labor force will be in job retraining programs.” This may sound a little bit daunting (after all, how are we going to fit more training into our already-overstuffed schedules?). At the same time, I am thrilled at the prospect of companies offering employees resources to continuously evolve and grow. It will be a lot harder to get stuck in a bad career if all careers are constantly changing and periodic career changes are viewed as standard operating procedure for all workers.  The average American worker already changes careers several times over the course of a lifetime. Won’t it be nice to have more resources and support when it’s time to change things up in our work lives?

Read up on the World Future Society’s other predictions — including their forecasts for the death of the car, the growth in urbanization, and the evolution of religion in the Middle East.

Written by Pamela Skillings

So I’m finally back in blogger mode after a stretch of very busy days working with new and old clients facing career challenges. That includes those who have been laid off, those who are afraid they might get laid off, those who are contemplating new offers and opportunities (yes, they are out there!), and those who just feel paralyzed about what move to make in the current job market.

Oh yeah, and I also spent a few days visiting my hometown in the battleground state of Pennsylvania. Trust me when I say that political tensions are high in the Keystone State and I have seen enough campaign ads to last me the rest of my life.

So what’s been going on while I’ve been reworking resumes and boondoggling in Scranton, PA? Here are a few things that I’ve been meaning to bring to your attention.

• Congratulations to Project Runway Winner Leanne Marshall — I was thrilled to watch talented designer Leanne Marshall make a major career breakthrough on Bravo last night. She was crowned the Project Runway Season Five winner and won $100,000 to launch her business (along with a new car and other goodies). The 27-year-old Marshall was previously paying the bills as a graphic designer while she worked to hit it big in the fashion biz. The creatively gifted runner-up, Korto Momolu, also seems destined to make a name for herself in fashion. But will she give up her side gigs as a freelance photographer, African dancer, and hair braider? Korto is a perfect example of making a portfolio career work. Congratulations, ladies!

• Goodbye to Life’s Work — Lisa Belkin, the always-insightful New York Times Life’s Work columnist, is ending her column after nine years of covering career issues. Her last column sums up what she’s learned over the years (the biggest lesson being that there are no easy answers to the work/life balance question).
• Recession Relocation Ideas — BusinessWeek has identified the safest cities to live in during a recession — they include Washington, DC; Madison, Wisconsin; and Philadelphia, PA.
• Where Happy People Work — Check out this great roundup of the most enjoyable jobs in the U.S. from Payscale.com writer Kristina Cowan. The list is based on results from a recent University of Chicago study. You might be surprised to see that none of these jobs are particularly well-paying.