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    July 15, 2008

    Take Charge of Your Career

    Filed in: Coaching Tips, Job Search by Dr. Lois Frankel @ 4:27 am

    I received a wonderfully inspiring letter from a reader that I want to share with you:

    For the past two years, I’d been working for a Fortune 500 company as a demonstration coordinator.  I loved what I did and discovered a true delight in working with customers and organizing in-store events.   However, when a new store manager was promoted, things at that location rapidly went downhill.  After a few months, no matter what I did, I was criticized up one side and down the other. For a company that boasts about their ”appreciation of team members”, praise was few and far between for anyone at that location.    

    I realized that I was using my hour-long commute as time to consciously relax so that I wouldn’t take my rotten day out on my daughters.  I didn’t want my daughters to see their mom “trapped” in a job that I didn’t like so I set out to do something about it.  While talking with a salesperson at a shop in Kohler I discovered that Woodlake Market, a specialty grocery store, was looking to boost their image.  “Hmmmm… I could help them!”, I thought to myself.  After mulling it over for about 30 seconds, I went home and created a PowerPoint presentation of my resume showcasing the events I’d done over the past 18 months at my current employer as well as how I’d like to bring those talents to their store.  Then I e-mailed it off to the marketing director of the Shops at Woodlake - Kohler , who forwarded it to the store manager of Woodlake Market. 

    Though it took five months for the position to be approved (they asked me to write the job description for it!), Kohler Company believed in me and gave me the opportunity to “strut my stuff”.  I’m the new Special Events Coordinator! 

    Thin Pink Line kudos to her!  Here’s what I hope you will take away from her story:
    • Be a role model for your daughters.  Ask yourself if you would want them to be treated the way you’re being treated at work. 
    • Know when it’s time to vote with your feet.  If you’ve tried to turn around a difficult situation and it isn’t working, don’t remain a victim.  Your self-esteem and self-confidence will only suffer.
    • Advertise yourself.  I love that this woman created a presentation to sell herself into a job that didn’t even exist!  Go the extra mile and potential employers will see how you add value.
    • Be open, creative, and take risks.  The writer found her next job by simply talking to people at a shop she frequented.  Be alert to the opportunities around you.
    • Ask.  As this writer found out, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Don’t talk yourself out of a job before you even ask. 

     

     

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    3 Comments »

    1. This story made my day! Thanks for sharing it, Lois.

      Comment by Carol Frohlinger, JD — July 15, 2008 @ 11:57 am

    2. Hi Carol,

      The woman who wrote that letter is me and two weeks into my new job, I’m loving it even more! Woodlake Market’s managers are wonderful examples of what “leadership” really means. I’m being given opportunities to not only showcase what I already know but also the potential to reach outside my comfort zone and learn things I never thought I’d have the opportunity to.

      Thank you Lois, for giving me the opportunity to share my story with others. I’ve been sharing http://www.thethinpinkline.com with many other women.

      Please let me know if you are ever in the Milwaukee area … I’d love to meet you!

      Enjoy the day!

      Comment by Laurie — July 16, 2008 @ 4:39 pm

    3. Laurie, you’ll have to keep us posted; my guess is that not only are you loving your new job but that the Woodlake Market leaders you mention are delighted to have you on board too. I just love a win-win outcome!

      Comment by Carol Frohlinger, JD — July 17, 2008 @ 12:29 pm

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