I chatted with a woman last night who was recently down sized from Big Law.  Her expertise is in real estate, and there’s not the same kind of demand for lawyers with this skill set in these times.

“Well, hey, I’ve got a commercial lease I need to negotiate if you want a fun little per diem project,” I suggested.

“You’re so sweet to suggest that, but I think I’m going to focus my efforts on finding the right next career move.”

Right on.  I absolutely agree with her approach of slowing down and being mindful vis a vis finding her next paycheck.  Granted, many don’t have this luxury and simply have to take the first thing that comes along.  But many times those who are downsized and out of work think they need to hurry up and find a new gig — when actually, they don’t.  In fact, taking the time to be thoughtful about the next step oftentimes more than makes up for itself in the long run.

For example, I quit an unhappy job and spent four months doing nothing more than helping manage a friend’s baby clothing boutique and helping teach GMAT for another friend.  I took my time before making my next step and boy, am I glad I did; I landed a gig at Citigroup that was absolutely perfect for me.

Accepting the first offer that comes your way might not be a smart move.  In fact, according to Michael Cushman, a career coach that is touring the nation in an RV as part of eLearners.com’s national Career Empowerment Tour, the biggest mistake that job seekers make is “not consciously choosing and guiding their careers“.

Cushman breaks down the unguided seekers into three categories:

1. Islanders – They get too comfy in their stable industry, so when there’s a sudden shift, they lack connections to weather the storm.  They’re alone on their own little island.
2. Feathers – They drift along without a plan and work any ole’ job.  Fine with the economy’s good; harder when unemployment and competition are high.
3. Billiard Balls – They go wherever people tell them to go, whether it be a spouse, a friend, or a counselor.  This, Cushman says, is not different from doing what you’re “supposed” to do; maybe it’s not a particular person that pushes you into jobs and/or your career path, but rather the collective expectations of society.

As Cushman puts it regarding these billiard balls (emphasis mine):

I suppose that some people just don’t trust their own judgment. They haven’t given themselves permission to choose their own life.

Any of this sound familiar?

Click here to read the full article.  Click here to see if the Empowerment Tour is coming to a city near you.