Career Expo: Preparation TIps

If you are considering participating in Southern Comfort’s Career Expo, scheduled for Friday, October 3rd, it would be very helpful to review the following information before exploring jobs or talking to prospective employers.

SELF-ASSESSMENT: WHAT IF I’M NOT SURE WHAT I WANT TO DO?

Not knowing what you want to do is a dilemma faced by job hunters of all ages and levels of experience, including many Transgender applicants.

The first and most important step you can take is to view the interview as an opportunity.

If you beat yourself up for not knowing what you want, you’re not doing yourself any favors. Changing your thinking on this is not easy, but it's worthwhile.

If you are putting pressure on yourself, or making yourself feel wrong for not knowing, you are wasting valuable energy and potentially closing yourself off from opportunities that you would otherwise notice and be able to pursue.

Once you see your situation as the gift that it is, start by answering the following questions:

• When people come to you for advice or assistance, what do they need from you; What do they value in you?

• When have you been recognized for an achievement or accomplishments, what were they? List them!

How would you answer the following two questions? List as many answers; personally and professionally, as possible:

• In my life, what I truly need is…

• In my life, what I truly want is...

If you could do anything (career-wise,) and money wasn't an issue, what would
you do?

How do you want to be remembered?

Once you've done a thorough self-assessment and have logical, compelling reasons for pursuing a particular career path, be sure to share this in an interview.

Too many people get so nervous in interviews that they forget to share the “spark of passion” that prompted them to pursue the career in the first place.

Remember, no matter what the job/career you seek, employers are looking for people who are passionate and excited about the position and what they can provide to the organization. If you are truly excited about the opportunity, don't be afraid to show this side of yourself. Enthusiasm is contagious.

People who have a 'been there, done that' attitude may be perfectly capable of succeeding, but it won't inspire excitement in a potential employer. Time and again I've seen companies hire people with little experience strictly because they had a better attitude and more positive energy than candidates who were more qualified.

Lori Fox is a Transgender woman, living and working in the Chicago area. Her professional background is in Human Resources, Employment Coaching and Diversity Consulting. She has lived and worked in unique cultures, with unique people, as a Director of Human Resources / Training for McDonald's Corporation. She frequently speaks on university campuses and at corporations on Transgender issues. Lori will be presenting an employment workshop at the upcoming Southern Comfort Conference.

Next Month: Preparing for the Interview