Interview With Jan Cannon
Introduction
Jan Cannon is a multi-published career advisor who provides online content to the Boston Herald Career Connection, runs career and entrepreneurial workshops, and consults with job seekers from new graduates to experienced professionals looking to find new direction in their work life.
Please tell us about your book.
Now What Do I Do? The Woman’s Guide to a New Career is a practical, easy-to-use guide designed to help women face the challenge of finding new jobs. It’s for women over 40 who want or need to make career changes; it’s also for women who are re-entering the job market or who have never worked for pay. But don’t rule out its value for younger women and men! The advice is good for anyone looking for a new job.
Many people are in jobs they don’t like. Or they never really explored their dreams. or they don’t know how their abilities relate to specific job possibilities. This book encourages readers to learn about themselves and to value their years of paid and unpaid experience. While the book includes the “nuts and bolts” of job search skills (research, resumes, interviewing, etc.) the emphasis is on developing a clear sense of one’s strengths, talents, interests and goals and then finding the right job. The workbook-like format is easy to use and includes self-assessments and exercises.
You are a professional career counselor. What is the single most important piece of advice you can offer to your clients who are women over 50?
Don’t believe that you are too old to find a good job. There are many opportunities where your wisdom and experience will be valued. It may take a little longer to find them, but take the time and make the effort. You spend too much time at work to have it be something you don’t want to be doing.
That advice probably applies to everyone, right? To men also?
Of course. If age, either too young or too old, is seen as a barrier to a great job, that can do more to harm a good job search than anything else. Your mindset is extremely important for a successful job search.
How can women re-entering the work force after a divorce or being widowed present themselves in the most positive way?
Wait until you’re in a “normal” state of mind. If anger or grief is still a very strong emotion, it’s likely that you’ll come across to an interviewer that way. No one wants to hire someone who’s “needy.” If you’re not ready to be “peppy” and “smiling,” wait a while to start your job search. A few weeks or months won’t matter. Remember, you only get one chance to make a good first impression.
What about age discrimination? That applies to men also, correct?
Basically I advise my clients that if they feel discriminated against, it’s not a place they want to work. There’s always been discrimination sometimes subtle, sometimes not; but there’s also discrimination against young people in the workplace, too, especially mothers of young children. Keep looking for a good fit between your skills and the job, in an environment that “feels” right to you.
What is the best place, best way to learn new skills?
People learn differently: some read and learn, others listen and learn and others watch and do to learn. Depending on the skills you need to learn and your own style will determine the best way to acquire new knowledge and abilities. Just make sure your skills are updated regularly so that you’ll be competitive in the job market.
You are quoted as saying that women over 60 "are willing to take whatever job they can to cover health care expenses." Is that a problem that should be tackled on the national level, so that we all have the same excellent health insurance that our congressmen and senators have?
Whether or not we have the same coverage as our elected representatives, I believe an insurance system that is not ties to our jobs would be best for everyone. Then, like with car insurance, we could each choose the type of coverage we want, the carrier we want to use, and sundry other variables that are not in our control when the insurance is tied to employment. Many self-employed people go without insurance because it’s not available or very costly. Since we cycle through jobs much faster than in the past (no longer lifetime employment) there are likely to be challenges finding/keeping health insurance over time for anyone who’s faced job loss or contemplates changing careers.
What are the positive attributes that older workers bring to the workplace? In other words, what are the reasons employers should hire older workers? What is an older worker, anyway? Over 40? 50? 60?
Older workers bring many good attributes to the workplace. First is their experience. Also, their dependability and good work habits. You don’t get to be an older worker without learning how businesses operated. One hidden advantage of age shows up when you change career direction. You may be in real estate for only a year, but the gray hair and/or crow’s feet might indicate to your clients that you’ve been doing this much longer. Instant credibility!
By law, older workers are over 40. And age discrimination suits can be filed by anyone over 40 who feels that s/he was fired or refused a job offer because of age. The courts, however, are very behind in hearing these cases and the cost can far outweigh the outcome. Unless there is VERY clear evidence of discrimination, just ignore the injustice and move on. You’ll probably have to be looking for a new job in the meantime anyway.
Do you offer individual counseling? How can people reach you?
I offer a full range of client services, from identifying intgerests through salary negotiation. I start with a short phone interview to determine what services a client needs. I see clients in my Boston-area office and work via the telephone and e-mail with others across the US and Canada. I offer lots of free information and resume services through my website http://www.CannonCareerCenter.com. The best way to reach me is via e-mail at .
I assume you love your work?
Seeing clients move from unhappiness to satisfaction is very rewarding. I enjoy working with clients of all ages and in all stages of their careers, whether new college grads just starting out or mid-life people looking to do something different with the next part of their lives--and everything in between. I’ve always been asked for advice--it’s nice to be able to make a career out of giving it.