A Second Career Game coaching article:
For effective decisions,
look beyond career stereotypes
by Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D.
You've probably been
taught not to stereotype people based on race, religion or sex. But
when you make a career or business decision, do you still make
decisions based on stereotypes?
"Insurance sales reps
must be gregarious."
Hal, a successful
insurance agent for many years, has developed a portfolio of loyal,
happy clients. Hal can be described as an introvert. He rarely speaks
unless spoken to, and then he speaks briefly and softly. His clients
have learned that he's a caring, dedicated agent who never misses a
detail.
"Accountants sit
quietly and crunch numbers."
These days, accountants,
especially those in the large firms, have to become experts at client
relations. Often they're expected to steer business towards the firm's
consulting division.
"Want to travel? Be a
travel agent!"
Once upon a time, when
nobody worried about security and airlines gave us more than an inch of
legroom, I loved to travel. When I sought ways to combine my love of
travel with a career, I would often hear, "So become a travel agent."
Surprise!
Travel agents rarely travel. After all, someone has to stay in the
office and answer calls from clients. A major perk involves the "fam"
or familiarization trips, when agents are invited as a group to preview
a new resort or discover a new locale. There's rarely time for
leisurely sight-seeing.
These days, a corporate
travel agent is more like a traffic cop than a friendly guide,
charged with enforcing regulations of the company who pays her
commission: "The non-stop flight is two hundred dollars more than the
connecting flight with the two-hour stopover. Looks like you've got two
hours in Cleveland."
After dealing with hundreds of less-than-thrilled employees, one agent
told me he was quitting the industry, probably for the more serene life
of a bill collector.
"Big cities are
unfriendly."
Any place will feel
hostile to newcomers. I've lived in several of the largest cities in
North America and found helpful, caring people everywhere. Often
businesses are more helpful simply because there's more competition.
"The desert is all sand
and cactus."
In the high desert of New
Mexico, where I live, we have green trees, flowering plants, and snow
in the wintertime. We have abundant fruit trees and sometimes we have
to rake leaves in fall.
"Small towns are
conservative, you have to join a church and country club, and you must
be married."
Probably some are. My town
has less than twenty thousand people, yet I know lots of very happy
residents who forego churches and country clubs in favor of coffee
shops and art galleries. We have many single people and a sizeable gay
population. Generalizations? Well, nearly everyone has a dog or cat and
you'll find numerous multi-pet households.
How can you avoid
stereotypes?
Traditional career
tests often are based on outdated or stereotyped visions of careers.
Stereotypes of locations tend to be perpetuated by folks who have never
visited, let alone lived there.
I encourage anyone
contemplating a life change to follow the Rule of Six. Talk to
at least six people who have real, hands-on experience on the path you
want to follow. If they clam up and say they're too busy to talk,
you've learned a great deal already.
Most people will begin
with a happy, party-line spiel. Dig deeper till you start uncovering
negatives and warnings.
On the rare occasions you
hear a lot of negatives, keep going until you discover a positive.
Harry almost gave up on
his goal when four people talked about problems getting clients for a
unique consulting business. After we talked, he realized they had all
used the same time of marketing -- and they weren't very good at it. He
broadened his search to gain a new perspective.
The Bottom Line
I'm always amazed at how many "experts" base recommendations on
stereotyped versions of careers and places to live. That's why you may
be advised to become a funeral director or a florist when you really
belong in outside sales.
There's no substitute for
gathering your own information from people who have been there and
back. If something sounds too good -- or too bad -- to be true, it
probably is.
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intuition for career and business decisions.