Sometimes my clients retreat when ownership is required for their job search. Some are embarrassed at their age not knowing what they want to be when they grow up. My advice is to fight the tendencies of isolationism, self-doubt, anxiety and frustration by reaching out to your team of friends and family. In other words, throw what I call “The Career Development Party.”

1. Before the Party
Start by, inviting a number of your close friends over to your place – get confirmations from 6 to 10 of them. This is your trusted support team that wants to help you succeed. Tell them the purpose is to both have fun and to seek their advice, direction and guidance as you make this transition. Inform them about the format of the party and how long the party will – plan on a few hours. Send them a copy of your resume a head of time so they can review your background and are prepared to offer careful advice and encouragement.

2. During the Party
Begin by enjoying each other while the meal is being prepared and during the dinner. At this point, avoid talking about your career issues – keep it light. Afterwards, head to the living room with some dessert and drinks. The goal of this part of the party is to help you get focused on your core career goals and then assist you with developing an implementation plan that is going to work.

First, you or your chosen facilitator can pass out little individual slips of paper for each guest. Each guest is asked to write down some answers to an important self-assessment question:

• “What do you perceive to be my top three skills, values, interests and personality traits?”

Give them a few minutes to carefully prepare their answers. Put the slips into a hat and then randomly pull them out and write the responses on a flip chart. From other people’s perspective, do you see any recurring patterns? This will be valuable data that you can then discuss openly.

Next, give them some career exploration questions to answer and then place those slips in the hat:

• “What three jobs or careers would you suggest I pursue?”
• “What three networking contacts do you suggest that might help me?”

Now, create some positive discussion about some of the advantages and disadvantages of the various job options under consideration. Be sure to take notes on the flip chart or in a notebook.

Finally, using the hat again each guest submits answers for your strategic action plan questions:

• “Should I either do a job search, go back to school or start a business?”
• “What suggestions to do have for revising my resume?
• “Do you have any cover letter or interview tips?
• “What three pieces of career advice would you give me for initiating my action plan?”
• “What do you think I need to do immediately?”

3. After the Party
As you near the end of the party, this is your chance to summarize with your team the many recommendations that emerged that will help you move forward. Be sure you give each guest at least 6 copies of your resume that they can distribute. After you have thanked your guests, be sure to spend some time reflecting on all the great ideas that resulted from the discussion. Start ranking the list into three categories of highest, high and lower priorities. Trying to make a career transition is very challenging, but The Career Development Party is a collaborative effort between you and your dream team that will help empower you. If you ask for help and are specific, you will be surprised with the results. It takes a village to change a career. Consider throwing a second party later for continued support and feedback or just call your team for accountability monitoring. Be sure to thank them again later and pay them back with your success – they are counting on you!

© 2009, Dr. Thomas J. Denham, Careers In Transition LLC