Career Lessons from TV

A genius move by the folks at USA Network highlights a new trend in today’s job search. The “Royal Pains” website now features a real-life doctor blogging about the medical conditions featured on the show and questions from the fans. If you’re in the job hunt, you could use blogging to show off your expertise, as well as your writing and communication skills.

Dr. Irving blogs for "Royal Pains"

I wish they would’ve gotten a real spy to blog for “Burn Notice”, but I guess they’d get into trouble for sharing the recipe for explosives using fertilizer and toothpaste. Anyway, Dr. Irving’s Blog on the “Royal Pains” website is a great way to bring the entertaining aspects of the show into real life for the fans to enjoy and connect with.

Strutting Your Stuff With a Blog

Whether you’re entering the job market for the first time, or back in the market after a long stint of employment, you know something. Sharing that knowledge through a blog can give potential employers a better idea of your knowledge, experience, and personality. It also shows off really important soft skills such as writing and clear communication. Tara Weiss can help you with some starter tips for your blog in “Blogging Your Way Into A Job“.

One thing to remember when writing your posts is to have fun with it. It doesn’t matter if you’re an actuary or a Colorado River guide, let your passion and enthusiasm about what you do come out in your writing (in a natural way, don’t force it).

Already have a blog for your job hunt? Post it here.

Officially beginning “Burn Notice” withdrawal. In the summer finale, Michael’s shot at his dream job turns into a nightmare. It brings to light the issue that sometimes, the new job you just landed isn’t what it turns out to be.

Michael’s “professional” relationship with Strickler goes sideways when he’s forced to lie during his case review to get back into the CIA, in order to serve Strickler interests. Strickler also “excludes” Fiona from Michael’s future by attempting to auction her off to the highest bidding adversary. Michael “terminates” his partnership with Strickler and rescues Fiona from becoming an auction item. The episode emulates a familiar situation to job seekers- when the new job doesn’t turn out to be the opportunity they were looking for.

Sometimes, no matter how diligent you are in vetting your new offer, as I wrote in a previous post “Lesson from ‘Warehouse 13′- Look Before Leaping Into Your New Job“, the unsuitable aspects of your new job won’t be discovered until you actually start on that job. When it all becomes too much to bear, you have to discuss the matter with your new manager. Since there’s no way to predict whether they’ll accommodate you or fire you, you also need to be looking for another job anyway, which is what Susanne Lucas advises in “What To Do When a Dream Job Isn’t“.

In the event that you are terminated, be sure to update your professional and social networks that you’re back on the market. Also, you can leverage social media to do additional research on potential employers to find company buzz and even former employees.

Hopefully, you’ll be able to catch the warning signs before getting into a suspect situation, but should you find yourself in one, remember that there’s always a way out.

See You Soon, “Burn Notice”

Really gonna miss this show as it takes its hiatus. For the fans, I think the people who burned Michael are back, but then again I am a serial guesser. I’ll have to live on the show’s website, Facebook and Twitter offerings in the meantime.

Left or saved a job gone bad? Post it here.

To celebrate the “Burn Notice” appearance at Comic-Con in my own non-privileged way, I’m pulling another lesson from one of my favorite shows- how to survive the job you’re stuck in.

In the latest episode, Michael is compelled to help a teenage boy stay with his mom in a custody battle with his abusive father, whose brother is a local crime lord. For those who didn’t see the pilot, Michael Westen comes from a broken home where his father beat him. It’s natural he would identify with his latest client, and ultimately find something of value in his current line of work (which he still scorns)- fighting for those victimized as he was in his childhood.

When Life Gives You Lemons, Make Hard Lemonade

Like Michael, many people are forced by circumstance to work in fallback jobs just to make ends meet. The way things are going, they’ll be stuck in those jobs for some time. So if you’re fortunate enough to have any job, but not fortunate enough to be doing something you enjoy, there are things you can do to make your situation more tolerable. Rachel Zupek has a list of suggestions in “Are You Stuck in Job Prison?” to include changing your perspective on your current job, identifying the good and bad parts, and focusing on the positive aspects. Zupek also writes that you should still be pursuing the work you desire by networking, continuing education, and coaching. Volunteering for something within the company that excites you , as Zupek writes, can lift your spirits and provide more opportunities to get a better job. For whatever reason you’re stuck in a job you don’t like (whether it be fear, financial necessity, or both), making the most of what you already have, in addition to pursuing your career goals regardless of difficult economic times is what’s ultimately going to help you through.

As For Me…

While I’m not currently working, I’m doing what I can to make the most of it, as many others are. As I’ve written before, I continued my education, I’m networking, and I’m blogging. I’m also taking the time to really enjoy what I have, such as the TV shows I write about, and also my very supportive family. Times are rough, but they’re more bearable when you’re not struggling alone. I commend anyone fortunate to be working now, regardless of what it is, and if they’re still pursuing the work they desire, I hope they get it.