| This is Ian's story in his own words, and singing | | | | for myself to achieve. You have to really give |
| my praises which I unabashedly share below. Of | | | | yourself over and trust the process. Shell and I |
| course, I was a puddle after reading this for the | | | | worked together to understand and map out my |
| first time. Now, I am grateful that Ian is truly a | | | | career goals. We figured out those details I |
| creative writer and can express the experience | | | | mentioned before and I began to actually see |
| with such fluidity and elegance, and offer hints of | | | | myself in the job I wanted. |
| what really worked for him. His gifts and talents | | | | The process took a lot of hard work and yes at |
| are being used in the way they were MEANT to | | | | times I did get frustrated and even upset, but |
| be used and in a way that he can best be of | | | | Shell was there every step of the way to |
| service to himself, his community and the world. | | | | encourage me and keep me on the path towards |
| Even though Ian is a recent college graduate, he | | | | my career goals. Some of my career goals were |
| could be anyone who has been laid off or is | | | | as follows: |
| dissatisfied with his or her career. This story is his | | | | To work in a creative/ marketing position |
| journey, yet the process to doing what you love | | | | To work in an environment that was a fair mix |
| is the same and the road less traveled. Enjoy! | | | | between team and individual structures |
| "I was fired, let go, downsized, call it what you will. | | | | To work with kind people who kept their work |
| It felt like a punch in the stomach. I was fired on | | | | and personal lives separate |
| the Fourth of July in the middle of one of the | | | | To have an office with big windows |
| worst economic downturns in history. I was a | | | | At the end of my work with Shell I got a job. I |
| recent college grad with two years of bartender | | | | am an internet marking specialist. I am allowed to |
| experience under my belt and nothing more. You'd | | | | write and be creative. I work in groups and by |
| be hard pressed to find a more desperate case | | | | myself, and my office has plenty of windows. |
| when itt came to the field of job searching. That | | | | None of this would have been possible without |
| was what I thought anyway, I saw in myself only | | | | Shell. Her support and guidance helped me though |
| my short comings and inadequacies. I thought I | | | | the darkest moments of my job search, she |
| would have been lucky to find another job in the | | | | constantly reminded me that there was a light at |
| restaurant industry if anything. Then I met Shell. | | | | the end of the tunnel and the only person who |
| She asked me questions about myself that I | | | | could make it brighter was me. I thank her from |
| never even considered asking. What would my | | | | the bottom of my heart." |
| ideal work environment look like? What kind of | | | | The caveat to Ian's story is that he went to |
| structure would there be? Would I like to work in | | | | work for The Money Tree, voted the best |
| groups or as an individual? Would there be | | | | company to work for two years in a row in |
| windows in my office? These questions almost | | | | Seattle, WA. The education and training he is |
| seemed silly. Shell got me to think differently | | | | receiving from the position is setting the stage for |
| about my goals and what they would look like. | | | | many opportunities in the future. He loves his job |
| What do you think about when you look for | | | | and the company loves him. |
| jobs? The pay? The benefits? The commute? | | | | Tips for the ultimate "Job Hunt": |
| She got me to think about what I wanted out of | | | | Treat identifying your career/job direction doing |
| a job down to the detail, and because of that the | | | | what you love (the nit picky details), and |
| big picture got brighter, more focused, and | | | | subsequent job hunt as a job. |
| became more of a tangible reality. | | | | There is truth in the details - they are the |
| So I went from sitting in my basement playing | | | | authentic you. You will stand above the rest when |
| video games all day long to a structured lifestyle | | | | you can express them (knowing who you are) to |
| where I had a job. My job was of course to find | | | | a potential employer. |
| a job. That meant getting up and starting my day | | | | Support does make a difference. |
| before typical business hours, dressing | | | | Persistence is key. Stay on track. Never give up. |
| professionally, and setting small goals and projects | | | | |