1.
Navigating Around
Four Potholes in Job Search
Catherine Morgan
Career Transition Expert| Business Consultant
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.

2.
Sacred cows
• Sometimes the things everyone
says are true - aren’t

3.
The reframe
• Sometimes even if
something is true,
it might not
be helpful

4.
What we’ll cover
• Ageism
• Time in transition
• Regime changes
• Bad business breakups
• Advice

5.
AGEISM

6.
Ageism mostly isn’t
• Does ageism exist?
• Even if it does, it may not apply to you

7.
This question helps
• Is it an AGE issue or a WAGE issue

8.
Ways to get around ageism
• Check yourself before you wreck yourself
– Are you passive-aggressive?
– Are you defensive?
– Are you entitled?

9.
It’s inevitable
• We have five generations in the workforce
• We have an aging population

10.
TIME IN TRANSITION

11.
Extended time in transition
• How you talk about this varies by situation
– Be truthful, but frame it positively
• If the situation has passed, share that
– Be proud of any accomplishments or learnings
• Whether you got paid or not!

12.
REGIME CHANGES

13.
Regime changes - Management
• You had a new boss each quarter
• You had a boss who loved you, but your new
boss criticizes you
• Your new boss was clearly cleaning house

14.
Regime changes - Management
• You had a new boss each quarter
• You had a boss who loved you, but your new
boss criticizes you
• Your new boss was clearly cleaning house

15.
Regime changes - Management
• You had a new boss each quarter
• You had a boss who loved you, but your new
boss criticizes you
• Your new boss was clearly cleaning house

16.
Regime changes - Company
• The name on the door didn’t change –
but everything else did
– Corporate culture is a real thing
– Fit is the most important thing

17.
BAD BUSINESS BREAKUPS

18.
Bad business breakups
• Toxic work environment takes a toll
– Can lead to PTSD-type symptoms

19.
Let go after years of service
• Unexpected layoff after 10, 15, 20
years of service
– Anger, shame, low self-esteem
– OR relief

20.
Potential implications
• Unexpected separations can trigger anxiety
• Working may become linked to pain,
which may lead to sabotaging your job search

21.
ADVICE

22.
Mental game
• Be honest with yourself about what happened
and how you feel about it
• Practice extensive self-care to get your head in
the game
• Rehearse answers to tough questions with a
coach (and anyone who’ll listen)
– Even the most triggering event will lose its charge
as you continue to talk about it

23.
Mental game
• Be honest with yourself about what happened
and how you feel about it
• Practice extensive self-care to get your head in
the game
• Rehearse answers to tough questions with a
coach (and anyone who’ll listen)
– Even the most triggering event will lose its charge
as you continue to talk about it

24.
Mental game
• Be honest with yourself about what happened
and how you feel about it
• Practice extensive self-care to get your head in
the game
• Rehearse answers to tough questions
– Even the most triggering event will lose
its charge as you continue talking about it

25.
Alignment
• Ensure that you:
– Understand the right cultural fit for you
– Target jobs you actually want to do
– Look for clues about how colleagues interact
– Know your values and don’t compromise them
– Avoid collapsing into negativity
• It just takes one job for your life to be back on track

26.
Questions?
Catherine Morgan
Career Transition Expert | Business Consultant
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.
877.672.5333
Catherine@PointAtoPointBTransitions.com
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/PointAtoPointB
Twitter @PointA_PointB