To mark twain is to measure the depth of the river bottom. It is an old term used by riverboat pilots and a nom de plume taken by the author Samuel Clemens. What does this have to do with a job search?
Well, I always start with a career values assessment though I don’t
tell prospective clients as they all tend to be gung ho on getting
their career branding and online networking going.
But identifying your top ten career values is the “mark twain” that
guides you down the job search river. You test the depths, so to
speak, to see how any company, sector or field you are considering
measures up to your top ten values. Starting from the boat launch of with where you are now you can use your current position as an initial depth finder.
More often I find clients who are torn between what they think are
polar opposite wants and needs for example: an exciting, interesting,
fun, high paying job versus family and financial security. Sadly many
professionals think they face an either or proposition and that they
can’t have some of both or even all of both.
I posit that if you can envision it, you will achieve it. Trite as that
slogan seems, it is true. The clearer you are on your top values and
core criteria that have to be satisfied in your next job, the easier it
is to determine the extent any job and company would fit you. Even if you had to take a job in this economy that wasn't optimum, you would know the trade-offs and the downsides. There would be no unfulfilled expectations.
As you paddle on in your search, using your top values as a benchmarking tool
will enable your to measure the trade offs of value satisfaction with
any opportunity. It enables you to choose the optimum best fit at any given time.
By the way, being torn between wanting what seem like conflicting
values is often the source of job search procrastination. There is a
remedy. If you start looking you have to face what appears to be a
conflict so taking the plunge is a release. Get out and
test the job search waters, marking twain, is the answer.
Here is a short list of career values. Find your top ten and see if your current position measures up.
Have fun!
ADVANCEMENT/ PROMOTION.
ADVENTURE/TRAVEL
AFFILIATION/ BELONGING
AUTHENTICITY/ACCEPTANCE
BALANCE
BENEFITS & PERKS
CHALLENGING PROBLEMS TO SOLVE
CHANGE & VARIETY
COMMUNITY
COMPETITION
COMFORTABLE INCOME
CONTRIBUTION
CREATIVITY
DIVERSITY/MULTICULTURAL
EGALITARIAN
ENTREPRENEURIAL
ENVIRONMENT/SURROUNDINGS
ETHICS/INTEGRITY
EXCITEMENT
EXPERTISE/INTELLECTUAL HORSEPOWER
FAMILY FRIENDLY
FAST PACE/ HIGH ENERGY
FLEXIBILTY
FUN/PLAYFUL
FREE OF POLITICS
FRIENDS/ NETWORK/SUPPORT SYSTEM
FINANCIAL SECURITY
GLOBAL/INTERNATIONAL SCOPE & REACH
INDEPENDENCE/AUTONOMY
INFLUENCE/MAKE CHANGE HAPPEN
HELPING OTHERS DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY
HIGH INTERPERSONAL/PUBLIC CONTACT
LEARNING/KNOWLEDGE
LOCATION OR COMMUTE
LOW KEY/LOW PRESSURE
LEADERSHIP/DECISION-MAKING
MANAGEMENT/SUPERVISION
MEANING & FULFILLMENT
MENTOR
PERSONAL SAFETY
PHYSICAL /OUTDOOR WORK
PRECISION AND DETAIL
PREDICTABILITY
PERSONAL OR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH
PROFICIENCY
PROFIT/WEALTH ACCUMULATION
PROFESSIONAL STATUS
ORGANIZATION/STRUCTURE
RECOGNITION/ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
REGIONAL SCOPE & REACH
RELAXED/CASUAL
RESPECT
RISK TAKING
SECURITY / TENURE
SELF-EXPRESSION
SPIRITUALITY/UNIVERSAL IDEALS
STABILITY
SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS
TEAM WORK
TIME FREEDOM
PRESSURE/DEADLINE DRIVEN WORK
WORK ALONE
WORK ON CUTTING EDGE IDEAS/.PRODUCTS
WORK TO CHANGE OR BETTER THE WORLD
Hope you are enjoying your summer and are taking the time to stop paddling and just drift, even for just a little while.
Best
Patti
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