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Generation Stuck

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Robin Roman Wright) — Wed, 06 Mar 2013 00:49:01 GMT

Today's guest blog is contributed by my colleague and AD/HD specialist, the fabulous Robin Roman Wright. At the bottom of the post, you'll see how you can join a free seminar she's giving next week called, "Smart College and Career Planning."

Dear Parachute4Teens Readers,

During the fall of 2012 I was listening to WBUR a radio station in the Boston area, and I heard one of the broadcasts from a series called, “Generation Stuck.” It chronicles the lives of twelve 20 somethings who feel stuck due to three things:

High amounts of student loan debt
Living back at home because they can’t earn enough to rent their own place
Being unemployed or underemployed

Both Carol and I have heard similar stories from our interviews or coaching sessions with young adults. One of the young men, Sam, interviewed in the broadcast has this response to the question, “Do You Worry that the American Dream is No Longer a Reality?”

“One of the things that makes me so angry is that I bought into it. I thought that if did all the right things, that I would be able to have a successful life. And that wasn’t the case.”

We encourage teens who are still making decisions about higher education and how to get prepared for a bright future to listen to the 20 somethings in this series.

What can you do to avoid this crushing debt?

How can you plan to obtain further education and learn a skillset to be in a good position to obtain employment in a job that you enjoy?

We also encourage parents to listen to the stories in order to help guide their teens through what is a cosmic shift in the world of work and a rapidly changing landscape in higher education as well. In addition, we encourage 20 somethings to read about your peers’ lives and the blog comments on genstuck.wbur.org to realize that if you are feeling stuck and disappointed you are not alone.

Furthermore, we hope that through reading the Generation Stuck blog, our blog and other resources, you might find some wisdom about how to get unstuck and begin moving forward with hope and optimism.

Listen to the radio broadcast from September 28, 2012 http://radioboston.wbur.org/2012/09/28/generation-stuck.

Read the blog put together by WBUR as part of the Generation Stuck project at http://genstuck.wbur.org/.

We'd love to hear your thoughts about this issue. Do you feel stuck? Do your young adult children? Do the teens or young adults you teach or coach. Let us know." Robin Roman Wright {jcomments on}

Smart College and Career Planning Webinar, Tuesday, March 12, at 8:00 p.m. EST

Topics:

What do you need to know to make good career decisions for yourself?
What are the options: How can I afford to study after high school?
Choosing a college major, getting an internship and preparing to get a job.

This is a one-session webinar for high school students, college students and parents. The webinar is offered by Robin Roman Wright, Career & AD/HD Coach in the Greater Boston Area,and will give you an overview of the career planning process. To register click here: Register for March 12 Webinar.

Life in the Third Age: Rebeginment, an Irish View

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Sat, 26 Jan 2013 17:21:39 GMT

When I first started seeing articles on retirement entitled the Third Act, I wondered if it would catch on. Although, as a metaphor it sure beats The Fourth Quarter! Well, catch on it did. There are books, conferences, retreats, music groups and blogs all focused on reinventing retirement.

In addition to my special focus on successful teen and young adult transition from school to work, I'm a career generalist. I've worked with all ages throughout my career.

Recently, I've been contacted by potential clients who have come to their third act, retiring from their long time careers either by choice or not. Some have come into retirement because their industry is dying. Others have had enough. But all share the same agenda: They are not yet ready to leave the workforce. To each of them, I've sent an article from Irish colleagues and today's guest bloggers, Brian McIvor and Pauline Murray. As each client found it very helpful, it occurred to me that many of my readers would too.

This excerpt deals with just the ideas of the Third Act. The longer article from which it is taken has more history on working women in Ireland. If you can't resist a subtitle like: Once Upon a Time--a short guide to selected episodes in Irish history. Email me at parachute4teens@gmail.com, subject line: Send complete Irish article, and I will.

Biographies for both Brian and Pauline appear at the end of the article.

A GENERATION OF WOMEN MOVE INTO THE THIRD AGE

It is against the background outlined above that a more equal, educated and articulate generation of Irish professional women are now moving into retirement. Full equality has not been reached – there are still differences in pay – both during career and at retirement but much has changed in the last 50 years.

Career Issues: The Three Boxes of Life and the Third Age

Richard Nelson Bolles in his Book the Three Boxes of Life and How to Get Out of Them suggests a model of life as a process of moving between three boxes of Learning, Labour and Leisure and suggests that the proportions of these are different at the major stages in our lives. At the start our school days do not normally have a large element of work in them but put the emphasis on learning and leisure. During the years of work, work predominates with leisure and learning struggling to get a look in.

The notion of retirement as a time when we stop work and enjoy access to almost unlimited amounts of time brings its own challenges:

What are we going to do with all that time?
Will our income be adequate to our needs over time?
Will our hobbies be sufficient to sustain our interests over time?
Read more...

Degrees Employers Love and Hate

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Fri, 18 Jan 2013 17:26:01 GMT

Today's guest blogger is the amazing Maureen Nelson. She's a superior model of a career practitioner. And, I never have figured out when she sleeps. She's a constant source of wonderful career information.

Maureen's comments refer to the following article, Degrees Employers Love and Hate. Anyone thinking about acquiring an academic degree should read both Maureen's comments and the article. My comments will appear below Maureen's.

"This article is hardly scientific -- it's sponsored content -- I removed all the sponsored links -- but might be good for people who think degrees in themselves are valuable -- mostly that's people who don't have them. Yes, they show that you can complete something, but better would be a resume full of amazing results in your field.

I'm skeptical about the Communications degree, yet I think it depends on the person. If they let it be just a sexier version of an English degree, it's not such a big deal; if they go after (that is, research, interview, write papers on, do projects on) the marketing/PR, business and new media angles and work the heck out of the program (get an internship and do something of long-term value for the company), even a jaded hiring manager would sit up and take notice.

[I'd like to say that experience is more important than degree but it depends on the sector. I now work in government and I've seen some very good people turned away because they didn't have degrees.]

Moral: all degree programs are what you make them."

Maureen Nelson

(workforce administration)

Carol's comments:

The smartest parent I’ve yet met!

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Mon, 30 Jul 2012 16:06:49 GMT

In May, I gave a community talk on careers and career development at our local high school. As we hope to move to Montana soon, I was glad of the opportunity to pass along the best bits of my research to the local community.

I frame my talks slightly differently than many speakers. I mention the action items first and then cover the research to back them up. Too often, speakers cover the background first and their recommendations get bulleted into the last five minutes.

In the Q&A, a parent made this remark:

“So, it seems that what you are saying is that career development happens backward. If we want to make good choices about higher education, we should first find out what employers we want to work for, meet them and ask them what course of study they recommend, also inquiring as to the institutions from which they prefer to hire graduates.”

In all the years I’ve been giving talks to parents and career practitioners, this was the first time someone had summarized my message so well. The best career development is done backwards. You identify your goal or goals and build out your strategy backwards from the future to the present.

Yup, she was certainly the smartest parent I’ve yet met.

If you’ve not yet done this backward career building, start today. Before the next school terms starts, whether you are in high school, college, graduate school, the service, an apprenticeship or in the middle of your job search, make sure you plan backwards. Connect all the steps to be sure what you are doing now connects you to your hoped-for future.{jcomments on}

Get Off the Slack Track

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 22:17:22 GMT

Dear Readers,

Good recruiters can spot slackers, and potential lazy employees, by their resumes. More often this is due to what they don't see on your resume, rather than what is on it .

If you are in high school and would like to get on the track to success, enroll at a community college for summer classes. Many community colleges don’t charge 16-18 year olds tuition. Books and transportation will be your only expenses. Think you are ready for college, test out your chops this summer. Take a class at your local community college.

Seniors, Ready to Graduate From High School? 5 questions to prepare for life after high school

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Fri, 06 Apr 2012 16:36:00 GMT

Dear Readers,

Sorry this post is a couple days late. Life…

Earlier this week, I reposted an excellent article, Ready to Graduate College? This short article, written by Dean Tsouvalas is excellent, brief and helpful to the max. After reading it, my thought was, "Someone should write an article like that for high school grads."

As I don't be an Everyone waiting for Someone else to do or say what needs to be done or said, that someone is me.

JUST FIVE QUESTIONS

Okay, high school seniors, read up! That which you’ve longed for—graduating from high school—is just about to happen. Are you ready?

1. Are you officially set to graduate?

How to Succed in High School And Prep for College

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Phyllis Zimbler Miller) — Tue, 27 Mar 2012 17:33:54 GMT

Dear Readers:

Today's blog is written by author and marketing consultant *Phyllis Zimbler Miller. Her latest book, How to Succeed in High School and Prep for College should be downloaded onto every adolescent's computer, iPad or Smartphone. The book comes from real life--helping her own young adults children achieve their education and life goals--and her knowledge of marketing. A great combination that delivers real world solutions and strategies.

Yes, there's a lot going on during those four high school years. But, these days, those who don't make time to plan ahead are too often left behind.

Below is an excerpt from How to Succeed in High School And Prep for College:

Entering 9^th Grade: Important Info to Know

When you start 9^th grade at most high schools you may be given a list of the course requirements for graduation as well as a choice of courses.

And herein lies a potential trap for unwary high schoolers:

High school reform: A matter of national security

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Mon, 19 Mar 2012 16:22:39 GMT

Dear Readers: While I have been off dealing with some health issues, the crises of secondary education, employment of young adults, and excessive student loan debt have continued unabated. I belong to several LinkedIn groups whose members are in the front line of working with teens and young adults. Some have articulated the problems and need for solutions so well that I feel compelled to share their ideas with readers of this blog.

Today's guest blogger is Jim Wells, Principal of Cypress Creek High School in the Houston, Texas area. By the time you finish reading his post, you will want him to be the principal of your local high school too!

From Jim: Change comes hard when the obvious change agent is the primary problem. We are not doing justice to kids by continuing the myth that the only way to be a success in life is to seek a college degree.

Granted, a college education certainly can make for a well-rounded individual. However, it no longer guarantees a young person entry into the middle class. This is especially true when students do not pursue options in fields that are currently in demand. (Example: http://money.cnn.com/2012/02/27/smallbusiness/youth_manufacturing_jobs/index.htm)

In fact, college (meaning in this context an academic degree of a bachelors degree or higher) is not necessarily profitable for many who come out of school with generalized degrees and a load of student debt.

In today's global marketplace, grads are not being asked, “How many degrees do you have?”

Instead they are being asked, "What value can you add to this process, company or enterprise?”

Tips for surviving family holiday dinners

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Thu, 24 Nov 2011 16:27:09 GMT

As we've noted before in this blog, family dinners at holidays can be great for gathering information about your interests.

However, well meaning adults may want to quiz you on your career or education plans. You may not want to be quizzed.

If you are not ready to talk about your plans, job goals or work, here are some ways you can deflect those well meant but put-you-on-the-spot questions:

Teens- When adults ask your plans for after high school, tell them you are still doing your research. Ask them to tell you about their current job and the fields in which they have worked. Ask them about their educational experience. Did they go to technical school, community college or university? Ask what kinds of entry level jobs or internships they might suggest for you to learn more about fields that interest you. Chat up all the adults present about their work experience. You may learn useful information, but if they talk and you listen, you are not the focus of intense scrutiny.

Young adults - When asked your plans, if you need more information or contacts in a field, see above. Quiz your quizzers.

Adults - If you have no wish to talk about your work or career situation, don't. Instead, say that Thanksgiving is a day to focus on gratitude, not work. State a couple things you are thankful for, then ask your inquisitor what they are thankful for. This works especially well with people who tend to be a bit snarky about your unemployment, your choice of work, or your lack of career (in their eyes).

If an adult, well meaning or otherwise, makes a comment about choosing a career that you don't think is right, feel free to write to me at: Parachute4Teens@gmail.com. I'll tell you what I know about issue in question.

If today leaves you feeling blue, write out a list of everything in your life you are grateful for. And, do remember this writer's mantra: If no one is shooting at you, it's a great day!{jcomments on}

Do you feel lucky?

Carol@CarolChristen.com (Carol Christen) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 14:52:52 GMT

Colleague Robin Roman Wright and I collaborate often. Right now we are designing a couple workbooks for teachers, counselors and others who teach What Color Is Your Parachute For Teens to groups*.

Last week, Robin called me for advice.

“Carol, there have been so many articles in the paper about the over-selling of university degrees (slightly less than 50% of university grads are getting jobs that need their level of education). There have been many articles about the dangers of student loan debt, both over-borrowing and borrowing to fund unsustainable majors. Quite a few articles about the need for technical workers and the sizeable salaries that these careers pay have also been in the papers and on the Internet. But still my young adult clients report that their parents and teachers are pushing them to go to university with the mindset that any degree is better than no degree. What are we to do?”

Both Robin and I work with young adults individually, teach groups of them, and do public lectures for parents, teens and teachers to help them understand current trends in the workforce. So, my first thought was to respond with a variation on Winston Churchill’s immortal, “Keep calm and carry on.”

My second thought was not as reassuring.