Lyft: A fictional short-short story

Depreciated: A fictional short-short story

Ripples: A short-short story

Diary of an Average Man, Age 20: part of a series of short-short fictions

Succeeding in Your First Professional Job

In this installment of The Quests series, my Psychology Today article today begins with a first-person report from "Jeremy," a composite of my clients' experiences. It embeds four important practices, and after "Jeremy's" report, I call them out.

Fear of Starting Out: Tips for psychology bachelor's grads and others ready to begin their career

My Psychology Today article today tells a composite story of my clients who are at the beginning of their work-life and my suggestions.

A New Graduate Searches for a Career: A mock career counseling session

In my PsychologyToday.com article today, I offer a mock career counseling session with a new graduate trying to figure out what career to pursue.

Starting Out: Career tips provided in the context of a story

I’ve written previously on career tips for people starting out, for example, this and this. But the articles have been in standard form: a bulleted list. 

Some people learn better when advice is embedded in a context, hence the composite story I offer in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

Starting Out: You've graduated (or dropped out.) Now what?

You’ve graduated or dropped out. Either way, it’s your first September without the structure of school.  There’s no MWF 9-11 class to show up at (or cut.)

Now you’re supposed to be a grown-up. Now what? I offer a bit of advice in my PsychologyToday.com article today.

Career Advice for New Graduates in a Tough Market

The government-reported low unemployment rate paints a misleadingly upbeat picture. The job market looks far less rosy when you add two huge groups not counted in the “unemployment rate:” 

There’s the under-employed: People who wished they had a full-time professional-level job and are working part-time, for low-pay, on a job they could have done straight out of high school---Uber anyone? Then there are the millions who have given up looking for work. They, somehow, are not counted in the “unemployment rate.” The more accurate statistic is the underreported Labor Participation rate, which is within ½ of 1% of the lowest since early 1978. https://tradingeconomics.com/united-states/labor-force-participation-rate   A record 95 million Americans 18-64 are not in the labor force.

And with the U.S. having the highest percentage of college graduates in history, that degree is a mere hunting license for employment beyond a McJob.

The ideas I offer in my PsychologyToday.com article today may help. They’re widely applicable, not aimed at stars.

A Workover: A Young Adult Who Is Ready for a Real Career

On PsychologyToday.com, I've been posting edited transcripts of calls to my NPR-San Francisco radio program in which I help people solve their work problem. I call them Workovers. 

In today's offering, I demonstrate an approach to helping someone choose a career.

Top Ten Tips for Starting or Changing Your Career

Maybe you've just finished school, or dropped out. Or maybe you're ready to change career.

In any case, you don't want to screw it up. Here are my top tips:

Go with what you got.  For example, if you're good at writing but a lousy team player, fight to get a job that allows you to be that best self. Yeah, I know that self-help gurus tell you to keep learning and that with effort, you can accomplish almost anything. Bull. Few people grow enough from remediating their weaknesses to justify spending the time on that rather than on using and building on natural strengths.

Be contrarian. If you search for jobs in popular areas--environment, entertainment, law, medicine, nonprofits--the competition is fierce. Go for the less sexy, for example: management in an industrial company, exporter of obsolete high-tech machinery to developing nations, work at a toxic waste disposal business. In the end, career contentment comes from doing a good job, having responsibility, getting appreciation, good pay and job security. You're more likely to find all those in something other than a "cool career."

Do the most you can, not the least you can get away with. I know that sounds like your parents' preaching but that is key to success. Really. 

Procrastination is career cancer. During a talk to college presidents, I asked, "How many of you consider yourself a procrastinator?" Fifteen percent raised their hand. I asked the same question to a group of unemployed people. 90% did.

Use your network. Alas, good jobs are ever harder to find. Unless you're a star, most of them go to someone with an "in." So pitch everyone you know. Give 'em just one sentence, for example, "I'm good on a team, keeping things organized, and calm. I'd like to work in government. Know anyone I should talk with?"

Consider self-employment. That's the fastest way to go from schlepper to CEO.  Yes, I know that most businesses soon go out of business. But if you keep it really simple and choose a low-status business, your odds skyrocket--you'll be competing with lesser lights. Examples: online dating coach, a small chain of flower carts near a busy bus or train terminal, heavy equipment servicer (e.g., printing presses, MRI machines.)

Append yourself to excellence. Try to get to report to a smart, hard-working, ethical, kind person who knows a lot about the field. Better to be that person's entry-level assistant than to have an important job aside a cretin.

Be low maintenance.  Yes, if it's important, complain, but recognize that you pay a price for each whine. One of the best things you can say to a boss or even co-worker: "How can I make your life easier?"

Do your hobby at work. There's usually a way. For example, I play the piano. How in the world could I incorporate that into my work as a career counselor? Many ways. For example, when I want my client to take a moment to think about a plan we've developed, I say, "I'll play some soft piano to give you a little space to reflect as well as to get us out of our head space and help you get in touch with your feelings about the plan we've concocted." Clients like it and so do I.

Keep ethics primary. I'm well aware that cheaters often do prosper but I really believe that you'll feel better about your life if you always let ethics trump exigency.

Always take the next step forward.  Looking back at past mistakes or unfairnesses is more likely to keep you mired than to teach you lessons. Looking aside at others is more likely to make you jealous or aspire to keep up with the Joneses than to help you do what you think is right for you. Always take the next step forward.