FILE UNDER “HEALTHY
EMPLOYMENT”
YOU CAN MAKE HAPPEN
WHENMARKETING YOURSELFBECOMES
YOUR NEW JOB BY DEBORAH VANCE /// PROFESSIONAL RESUME COACH
All of us, whether we make $20,000 per year or $300,000, live with the same existential reality—if we can’t meet our basic needs, we are pretty much stranded until we figure out a way to make that happen. People who make a lot of money lose their jobs too. It is an equal-opportunity dilemma when the bottom falls out and we find ourselves in a desperate situation. I write resumes for people, and coach people who want to “sell” themselves in their current field, or new ones. These are not minor challenges, because our jobs are often what satisfy our lowest, most basic needs. And any disruption can cause the entire structure to be shaken. A theory called the Maslow Hierarchy of Needs argues that our jobs are important to our psychological well-being. After all, they can affect all areas of our lives beyond a weekly paycheck. The theory proposes that our “lower” needs must be met before we can move up to our “higher” needs. I want to share some very practical tips about writing resumes, an 70 IHM HEALTH & WELLNESS MAGAZINE
important step on the road to healthy employment and a secure sense of well-being. Some people find themselves plummeting toward despair when they lose a job. So, what then are you to do? Find another job—an immediate impulse. But… what if you didn’t like what you were doing? What if losing your job is a good thing; apart from the interrupted income, was it a blessing in disguise? Gather yourself in a saner moment and try to consider the possibilities. Be brave, open up your thinking, and generate new thought about what’s happening in the job market. Think positively…it will energize you. FINDING A JOB THAT WORKS FOR YOU First, make a list of what you’re good at (communication, organization, management), what assets you have (degrees, certifications, IT skills), what you actually like to do and don’t like to do (behind the
scenes/support work, front line responsibilities, working with people, not working with people). Then go online and start searching for anything that sounds interesting to you and matches your list. You might be surprised at what comes up that you never thought of. Save any job postings that remotely interest you—even if they’re not jobs to which you will actually apply. Let the description of duties act as a guide to fine-tune your goal of finding work that feeds your body and soul. MARKETING YOURSELF IS YOUR NEW JOB RIGHT NOW! A good resume used to be enough. It is still the best way of organizing and presenting yourself to an employer, but consider the following.
