Be proactive in your career

I was pleased to read the piece in today's New York Times about the trend towards pursuing careers in public service, one of the bright sides of this moment of crisis. Hundreds of talented people are being proactive and moving toward growth areas that also allow them to pursue a desire for social contribution.

From the article: "In choosing careers, young people look for signals from society, and Wall Street will no longer pull the talent that it did for so many years,” said Richard Freeman, director of the labor studies program at the National Bureau of Economic Research. “We have a great experiment before us.”

What will the new map of talent flow look like? It’s early, but based on graduate school applications this spring, enrollment in undergraduate courses, preliminary job-placement results at schools, and the anecdotal accounts of students and professors, a new pattern of occupational choice seems to be emerging. Public service, government, the sciences and even teaching look to be winners, while fewer shiny, young minds are embarking on careers in finance and business consulting."

At this moment of flux, where are you in your career?
Have you been pondering a move of this type?
What tools and support do you need to make this leap, or at least to begin to move along this pathway?

I am leading a workshop in New York -- a Career Action Group -- beginning on May 5 and continuing for four Tuesdays. The workshop will be full of tips and strategies, along with a structure for exploring your values and vision, honing your networking and communications skills and managing the uncertainty of the transition. All this in a group with about 10-12 other interesting people.

It includes ten hours of workshop, and a 45 minute one-on-one coaching session. Check out the information at www.careeractiongroups.com
If you sign up by April 15th, you'll get $100 off the price!

Hope to see you there.