Post Job Loss Reinvention for Mid Career Professionals. Presenters. Objectives. Breakout Session MCDA Annual Conference 2011

Transcription

1 Post Job Loss Reinvention for Mid Career Professionals Breakout Session MCDA Annual Conference 2011 Presenters Dina Bergren, M.A. Family Member, Neighbor, School and Community Volunteer, Life Long Learner, Alumna, Yoga Practitioner, Career Development Professional, Career Services Advisor at Walden University. Nicolle Skalski, M.M. Family Member, Zumba Instructor, Interpreter, Community Volunteer, Life Long Learner, Alumna, Writer, MCDA Member, American Marketing Assn Member, Career Services Advisor at Walden University. Objectives Explore the current unemployment outlook for mid career professionals and the challenges they face Provide alternative strategies to motivate clients through long term unemployment Learn a new technique to coach and advise clients into a new career identity

2 The Labor Market s New Reality Weak economic expansion during decade leading up to recession (1997 Dec 2007) Weak gross domestic product and jobs growth Median family income did not rise Real value of minimum wage declined Widening gap between rich (top 1%) and poor (bottom 99%) The Great Recession (Dec June 2009) Record number of unemployed Far greater job loss now than during any other post war recession Economy continued to lose jobs for 2 years after recession started Jobs Gap Growth among working age population led to additional job shortfall Job loss (7.2 million) + jobs gap (3.7 million) = 11 million job shortfall

3 The REAL Unemployment Rate Underemployment Rate: 16.7% or 25 million Long term Unemployed: Dec. 2007: 17.4% Dec. 2010: 44.3% of unemployed Source: Economic Policy Institute Stigma of Unemployment What Is Our Value System? Human doings versus human beings Bottom line culture Entitlement Chasing the American Dream

4 Emotional Well being Where does emotional well being come from? Work Family Friends Hobbies Learning Spirituality Unemployed: What Is Missing? Structure Purpose Sense of Community Resilience Resilience: surviving extreme life diversities without becoming a psychological casualty The Resiliency Advantage by Al Siebert People have different levels of resilience Resilience can be cultivated

5 Disruptive Life Changes You ll never be the same again! Weaker or stronger Barriers or bridges Victim or action Deterioration or new strengths/abilities/learning Lack of control or in control Social indicators of success or personal goals Black/white thinking OR counterbalance Exercise in Building Resilience What strategies have you used to motivate your clients through long term unemployment? Strategies for Reinvention Re define success Boost physical and emotional health Take action Seek social connection and support

6 Strategies for Reinvention Create a portfolio of activities Continue to learn and grow professionally Embrace new possibilities Return to basics (frugality, humility, togetherness) Mapping Your Identity Zumba Instructor Try something new! Life long learner MCDA Member Recreational Activities Learning Activities High School Dance Coach Carolina Alumna What gives you meaning? Structure, purpose, community Bilingual Interpreter Webinar Presenter Community Activities Using Your Core Skills Community Volunteer Neighborhood Assn. Board Member Blog Writer Career Brand Mentor Conclusion You are more than your job Your new identity consists of multiple roles Multiple roles promote resilience and career reinvention

7 Resources Economic Policy Institute: The Great Recession s Long Tail Eliminated! Now What?: Finding Your Way from Job Loss Crisis to Career Resilience by Jean Bauer Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After Job Loss by Martha Finney The Joy of Not Working by Ernie Zelinski Resources The Resiliency Advantage by Al Siebert The Scarlet U of Unemployment: scarlet uof unemployment/ Unemployed, and Likely to Stay that Way (NY Times): _to_stay_that_way Without a Job, Who Am I? by Abraham Twerski

8 Mapping Your Identity What activities give you meaning?

9 Post Job Loss Reinvention for Mid Career Professionals Breakout Session MCDA Annual Conference 2011 Dina Bergren and Nicolle Skalski Resource List Economic Policy Institute: The Great Recession s Long Tail Eliminated! Now What?: Finding Your Way from Job Loss Crisis to Career Resilience by Jean Bauer Rebound: A Proven Plan for Starting Over After Job Loss by Martha Finney The Joy of Not Working by Ernie Zelinski The Resiliency Advantage by Al Siebert The Scarlet U of Unemployment: scarlet u ofunemployment/ Unemployed, and Likely to Stay that Way (NY Times): That_Way Without a Job, Who Am I? by Abraham Twerski