There are some big issues that can derail or stall your job search – ageism, extended time in transition, regime changes, and bad business breakups. None of these are insurmountable, but you will need some strategies and tactics to navigate around them.

1. Navigating Around
Four Potholes in Job Search
Catherine Morgan
Career Transition Expert| Business Consultant
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.

2. Sacred cows
• Sometimes the things everyone
says are true - aren’t

3. The reframe
• Sometimes even if
something is true,
it might not
be helpful

4. What we’ll cover
• Ageism
• Time in transition
• Regime changes
• Bad business breakups
• Advice

5. AGEISM

6. Ageism mostly isn’t
• Does ageism exist?
• Even if it does, it may not apply to you

7. This question helps
• Is it an AGE issue or a WAGE issue

8. Ways to get around ageism
• Check yourself before you wreck yourself
– Are you passive-aggressive?
– Are you defensive?
– Are you entitled?

9. It’s inevitable
• We have five generations in the workforce
• We have an aging population

10. TIME IN TRANSITION

11. Extended time in transition
• How you talk about this varies by situation
– Be truthful, but frame it positively
• If the situation has passed, share that
– Be proud of any accomplishments or learnings
• Whether you got paid or not!

12. REGIME CHANGES

13. Regime changes - Management
• You had a new boss each quarter
• You had a boss who loved you, but your new
boss criticizes you
• Your new boss was clearly cleaning house

14. Regime changes - Management
• You had a new boss each quarter
• You had a boss who loved you, but your new
boss criticizes you
• Your new boss was clearly cleaning house

15. Regime changes - Management
• You had a new boss each quarter
• You had a boss who loved you, but your new
boss criticizes you
• Your new boss was clearly cleaning house

16. Regime changes - Company
• The name on the door didn’t change –
but everything else did
– Corporate culture is a real thing
– Fit is the most important thing

17. BAD BUSINESS BREAKUPS

18. Bad business breakups
• Toxic work environment takes a toll
– Can lead to PTSD-type symptoms

19. Let go after years of service
• Unexpected layoff after 10, 15, 20
years of service
– Anger, shame, low self-esteem
– OR relief

20. Potential implications
• Unexpected separations can trigger anxiety
• Working may become linked to pain,
which may lead to sabotaging your job search

21. ADVICE

22. Mental game
• Be honest with yourself about what happened
and how you feel about it
• Practice extensive self-care to get your head in
the game
• Rehearse answers to tough questions with a
coach (and anyone who’ll listen)
– Even the most triggering event will lose its charge
as you continue to talk about it

23. Mental game
• Be honest with yourself about what happened
and how you feel about it
• Practice extensive self-care to get your head in
the game
• Rehearse answers to tough questions with a
coach (and anyone who’ll listen)
– Even the most triggering event will lose its charge
as you continue to talk about it

24. Mental game
• Be honest with yourself about what happened
and how you feel about it
• Practice extensive self-care to get your head in
the game
• Rehearse answers to tough questions
– Even the most triggering event will lose
its charge as you continue talking about it

25. Alignment
• Ensure that you:
– Understand the right cultural fit for you
– Target jobs you actually want to do
– Look for clues about how colleagues interact
– Know your values and don’t compromise them
– Avoid collapsing into negativity
• It just takes one job for your life to be back on track

26. Questions?
Catherine Morgan
Career Transition Expert | Business Consultant
Point A to Point B Transitions Inc.
877.672.5333
Catherine@PointAtoPointBTransitions.com
LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/in/PointAtoPointB
Twitter @PointA_PointB