When was the last time you went on a driving trip without checking to be…
John Borrowman, CPC
Borrowman Baker LLC
Gallatin, TN
Careers can be tricky things to manage. The tendency is to assume that they simply happen of their own accord. And, the fact is, they will. Just not necessarily in the way you might wish.
When they don’t, it would be nice to be able to reach for a book that would have practical guidance on what you should do. Sherrie Taguchi’s “The Career Trobubleshooter: Tips and Tools for Overcoming the 21 Most Common Challenges to Success” could be just what the doctor ordered. Taguchi’s experience spans corporate HR, as well as a stint as Director of MBA Career Management at Stanford.
The structure of the book is among its best features. Each chapter is devoted to one of the twenty-one challenges that Taguchi articulates. Rather than leave you wondering whether you really do face the particular challenge, she takes time to “decode” the challenge, focusing on what it looks and feels like so you know whether you are really experiencing it. One of the keys to dealing with a career challenge is to make sure that you are accurately defining it.
A subsequent section in each chapter provides a set of specific strategies, advice, tips and how-to’s. She includes actionable to-do’s, things to think about and questions to ask yourself in order to help you deal with the challenge most effectively.
The first five chapters deal with challenges inherent in looking for a job. Taguchi offers not only valuable information on doing a job search, but also on how to align your personal values with your job search, creating a strong resume, learning the ins and outs of interviewing, and recharging a job search that lasts longer than what you originally expected.
The next eight deal with the kinds of challenges you encounter on-the-job, including starting a new job, working for a bad boss, dealing with difficult colleagues, managing a new group of people, asking for a raise or a promotion, feeling inadequate at your job, having no career path, and coping with unethical conduct.
The next group of chapters discuss three major career-altering challenges that are thrust upon you by your employer: when you’re being fired or forced out, when you must deal with the aftermath of a merger or acquisition, and when you are laid off.
Taguchi’s final five chapters have to do with career choices that you undertake: making a major career change, taking a career break, resequencing your career for family, trailing your spouse to a new location, and not being sure of your career purpose or path.
When you’re facing a challenge in your career, the last thing you want is platitudes. When you want suggestions for practical, down-to-earth steps you can take, it’s time to pull “The Career Troubleshooter” down from the shelf. We recommend you add it to your collection.
“The Career Troubleshooter” can be found purchased from most on-line booksellers or through the American Management Association.
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John Borrowman
