Dear Joan:

I am 55 years old and have been a legal secretary for the past 21 years. I had excellent job stability until two years ago when my firm was forced to downsize. I have had three jobs since then; the last two hell on earth. I was recently told by an employment agency rep that I am not interviewing well because I should not say that my last two jobs were unpleasant.

I am not certain whether or not I am getting bad references from these people. I quit the one job and was laid off from the second as he was not happy with me and I was certainly not happy with him. I am also concerned that my resume now looks spotty and this is why I am have not getting offers or even interviews.

Also, I have a lot of trouble when I am asked about my "career goals," or "where I see myself in five years." I am a secretary, that's all I am and that's all I want to be. I don't have career goals, and I just want a job at a pleasant place where my talents are appreciated until I'm 62 and I can retire. I already have a BA with honors, which I acquired at night while working full-time as a single divorced mother, and have no desire to return to school.

I am an excellent secretary, albeit one who is getting tired of the legal field. Lawyers are all nuts and as I get older, I have less patience with the insanity. But since my last 21 years have been in law, other places, like hospitals, won't look at me because I don't have experience in a medical setting. I also suspect that my age may be making it hard to get a job.

I just don't know how to proceed here. Can you help me?



Answer:

You need to listen to your employment agency representative. No one wants to hire a person who gives off a whiff of trouble, and talking about your "unpleasant past employers will make them back away.

Instead, play up the solid track record you accumulated prior to your past few jobs. When you're asked about why that long-term job ended, tell them the truth, "It was a sad thing: the firm was forced to downsize and everyone was devastated.

If your employer had anything positive to say about your performance insert it, especially if their comments can be used to sell your skills and maturity: "The lawyers I supported told me they had no choice but the finances demanded the drastic cutback. They said my skills were excellent and that I was a role model for the younger secretaries and they hated to see me go.

When asked about your last few jobs, you will have to be more cautious. For instance, if the boss was disorganized and demeaning and blamed you for mistakes he made, it will only be your word against his. The employer will wonder what part you played and perhaps see you as defensive and carrying a chip on your shoulder. More importantly, he or she will question your judgment for talking about this in an interview.

For the job you quit, use the words "not a good fit instead of saying he was the boss from hell. When asked about the fit, talk about more neutral problems, rather than blame the boss (Even though he deserves it, it won't help you.).

Instead, you might say something that is true but not blaming, such as, "I like a fast-paced, efficient office environment and with only one lawyer to support in a small practice I felt underutilized.

Regarding the job from which you were laid off, you may be able to leave it off your resume if it lasted only a few months. What's the point in even discussing it? If it was short lived, you didn't have a chance to build up a work record. You could write it off as a misstep and not even talk about it.

However, if omitting it will leave a large time gap in your work history, you will probably need to talk about it. Again, find a more neutral reason to illustrate why the position didn't work out.

In addition, you may need to readjust your attitude regarding "crazy lawyers. You may have become jaded and critical and it may be showing. You mention that your patience has worn thin and that may have contributed to your recent job problems. If you really are that tired of the "insanity you might be wise to market yourself to related fields such as HR, accounting or finance.

Finally, don't worry too much about the career goal question. You don't have to have lofty career aspirations. In fact, a potential employer would probably love to hear, "I really enjoy being a secretary. I find it challenging and I get satisfaction from being good at what I do. As long as I have challenging work, I can feel fulfilled right in my own job. The employer won't have to worry about grooming you or losing you if you are happy right where you are.




Joan Lloyd is an executive coach, management consultant, facilitator and professional trainer/speaker.  Email your question to Joan at info@joanlloyd.com.  Joan Lloyd & Associates, (800) 348-1944, Visit www.JoanLloyd.com Joan Lloyd & Associates, Inc.