Robert writes:
I haven’t worked in more than a year and I was fired from my last two journalism jobs. I have no references.
How can I turn this mess around?
The Career Doctor responds:
You can turn your situation around by determining and solving your problem — or problems. I would guess that journalism is not the career for you, but perhaps you weren’t fired for job-related reasons.
So, the first question you need to ask yourself is why were you fired from your last jobs. Be brutally honest with yourself. Is it because you do not have the skills to be a journalist or because you shirked your job responsibilities — or worse?
If you truly believe you have the skills and abilities to be a journalist, then you will need to go about rebuilding your career. The best method for rebuilding your journalism career is probably though freelancing or working on the staff of a small newspaper or magazine…possibly even volunteering your efforts just to get your foot back in the door.
If you’ve now come to realize that journalism is just not for you, then your next step is to take a long step backwards and take a long, hard look at yourself — examine your interests, your abilities, and your transferable skills. Research careers that better suit who you are and what you like doing. Consider volunteering or temping to get rid of the long unemployment gap.
Finally, you’re going to need to work on your job-search skills. Remember that job-hunting is really a marketing function. You need to package yourself — in your cover letter, resume, and during the job interview — as the best candidate for the position the employer has open. Everything you say and do must express how you are better than other job candidates. You must overcome the stigma of being fired — it often shines through — and focus on the positive, on the future. Be prepared to have an answer about how your last jobs ended, but don’t dwell on it.
Consider reading my article, Getting Fired: An Opportunity for Change and Growth.
You might also consider reading this article: Ten Questions to Ask Yourself if You Still Haven’t Found a Job.
