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For Effective Decisions, Look Beyond Career Stereotypes
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. About The Author Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com. "Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
MORE RESOURCES: US Department of Labor releases new Job Corps Transparency Report U.S. Department of Labor (.gov) Careers at FEMA FEMA.gov Jobs and careers | Veterans Affairs VA.gov Home | Veterans Affairs What Jobs Can You Get With a Finance Degree? | Careers | U.S. News U.S. News & World Report Careers University of Northern Colorado Navigating Opportunity: Career Information and Mobility in Low-Wage Employment American Enterprise Institute Trying to “Bring Back” Manufacturing Jobs Is a Fool’s Errand Cato Institute Careers | Career Opportunities West Virginia University Careers City of Phoenix (.gov) Careers City of Ontario, California (.gov) Careers at Prairie View A&M University PVAMU Home Employment at WKU Western Kentucky University Employment Opportunities at National Headquarters The Salvation Army USA Careers at J&J Johnson & Johnson Careers Career Paths FEMA.gov Careers | Home USDA (.gov) Careers and Jobs at CRS Catholic Relief Services Employment Opportunities Alabama Department of Public Health (.gov) Careers UC Santa Cruz Work at Fairfield Fairfield University Careers - MDOT Maryland.gov Careers Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center Working for ICE ice.gov So, Why’d You Leave That Job? The New York Times Careers at USCIS USCIS (.gov) Employment Opportunities | Game Commission Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov) Careers Johnson & Johnson Store Hourly Job Areas Target Corporation Careers at TWU Texas Woman's University Work for Us (U.S. National Park Service) National Park Service (.gov) Work at Butler Butler University Jobs and Training at FDA fda.gov Explore Store Careers Target Corporation Domestic/Civil Service careers.state.gov How to change careers at 40 The Telegraph Employment | Department of Corrections Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (.gov) Work With Us National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (.gov) Careers at University of Missouri Health Care | University of Missouri Health Care jobs University of Missouri Health Care Careers at Simon & Schuster SimonandSchuster.biz Water Services Careers City of Phoenix (.gov) Career Opportunities Gilead Sciences Jobs City of Rochester (.gov) Career Opportunities UMHB How to Apply FEMA.gov Careers at Willamette Willamette University Full-time jobs for students Johnson & Johnson Careers Careers BASF Jobs at Liberty University Liberty University Careers Washington State University Careers at the IOC Olympics.com Employment Services for PhD Mathematicians American Mathematical Society Early Talent programmes AstraZeneca Healthcare Jobs at Novant Health | Novant Health Novant Health Future of Jobs Report 2025: The jobs of the future – and the skills you need to get them The World Economic Forum Careers and Employment Willamette University NASA Careers: Pathways NASA (.gov) Student internships at J&J Johnson & Johnson Careers Business Wire Careers & Jobs Business Wire Our Hiring Process Target Corporation Careers The Ocean Cleanup The Best Jobs in America in 2025 Money/ US News U.S. adds 228K jobs in March amidst market volatility: How investors should read the numbers Chase Bank Corporate Job Areas - Marketing & Digital Target Corporation KPMG Careers KPMG UF Health Careers UF Health Careers Store Leadership Job Areas Target Corporation Finding Your New Career at the City of Phoenix City of Phoenix (.gov) Ready for your next great job? ADP Careers Careers West Virginia Department of Education Job search KPMG Are you retiring or retired and searching for job? Here’s a guide on finding job after retirement The Economic Times Careers at Union Union College Jobs for Veterans and transitioning military VA Careers (.gov) The Gen X Career Meltdown The New York Times DOE Report Shows Clean Energy Jobs Grew at More Than Twice the Rate of Overall U.S. Employment Department of Energy (.gov) Early Careers | Students & Recent Graduates | BCG Careers Boston Consulting Group Work for the City of St. Louis City of St. Louis, MO (.gov) Current opportunities Turner & Townsend Interview Guide and Tips Target Corporation Job Opportunities Bellevue School District Microsoft mulls more job cuts, this time focused on managers and non-coders, not just low performers, sources say Business Insider Job Seekers Illinois Human Resources Gender pay gap in U.S. has narrowed slightly over 2 decades Pew Research Center RESTORING ACCOUNTABILITY TO POLICY-INFLUENCING POSITIONS WITHIN THE FEDERAL WORKFORCE The White House (.gov) Experienced Professionals | Careers | BCG Boston Consulting Group Explore BCG locations around the world Boston Consulting Group Postdoctoral Research Los Alamos National Laboratory (.gov) |
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