Ease back into workforce

How can you bridge cultural divides at work? Dr MARIE WILSON is associate professor of management at the University of Auckland, research director of the ICEHOUSE business accelerator and a veteran of 20 years in corporate management and small business.

Q: I am in my mid-20s and have been off work with depression since March. I now feel ready to go back, but I don't want to go back to nursing as I feel I am not using my potential there.

I'm a bit nervous about applying for jobs because of the length of time I have been away from work, and because I don't really know what sort of work I really want to do. I think I probably lack confidence - I know I could do most jobs I put my mind to. Could you offer any advice? Six months off from work is not that long, but if you still feel you lack confidence, you may want to check with your doctor or other health care professional to make sure that you are ready for a return to work.

A: Nursing can be a very stressful job, so a change may be in order. You need to think through what skills nursing and your other experience has developed in you and be able to convey them in a CV and interview.



You may wish to pick up some part-time and/or voluntary work to build up your confidence and experiment with different options before you make your next career choice.

Q: I have moved into a change management job at a company that has been floundering and has shed a few senior staff in preparation for a rescue programme.

Most of my team are great people and willing to do the work necessary for change, and I've built a good rapport with them in the last two months since arriving. But I have one woman whose hostility is quite remarkable.

According to my GM, she started showing these tendencies not long after being hired, following her move from the South Island to Auckland.

She doesn't appear to want to be here (maybe she just went for any job going just to get a foot in the door) and it is very tempting to tell her to push off if she doesn't like it - though of course I can't.

A: Take her aside and voice the concerns about her behaviour that you have outlined.

Get her explanations of why she is doing these things, and try to agree on a plan for how you can work together. You might also think about how your meetings are structured to make sure that communication like this doesn't cause the meeting to go off the rails.

Making a statement and then soliciting comments from everyone - maybe working around the table and recording them on a whiteboard - creates a sense of equal communication rather than a situation where her comments stand out as the only ones being made.

It also lets her, and you, see if she is out of line or just rude in the way she conveys her concerns.

Just because her tone is rude doesn't mean the content is wrong. Check and maintain flexibility; change managers expect some acting out in the process of change, even if it is unpleasant.

Q: I know this sounds like it's coming a bit out of left field, but how can you tell if you're in the right career? Is there a sort of 'fit' so that you know you're in the right place?

A: Since careers make the most sense when we look at what we've already done and then think about what's next, that would probably be a good place to start.

One way of assessing career fit is to look at the choices that you have made and see if they seem to be leading you in a direction that leaves you feeling that both the past and the future are worthwhile.

Another is if you can see yourself enjoying the types of jobs and other experiences that you're likely to be having.

If your career fits, it may seem a bit chaotic and happenstance but still positive in terms of direction, and the use and development of your skills and abilities.

Some writers suggest that paths that seem easy are often good career choices, because the ease indicates we naturally have the skills and characteristics for a particular type of work.

Others suggest that mastering things that are difficult or challenging adds spice to our careers as well.

Q: I've retired from the Navy, and am now in my mid-50s. I've taken a few months off and I'd like to get back into work - but it seems the civilian community doesn't want to know.

During my career I supervised from 15 men at the shop level to several hundred at department level. But this doesn't get me anywhere at interviews. It's as if forces careers are seen as having no transferable skills.

I know I'm not alone in this. What do you suggest we can do about it?

A: A career in the military provides a wealth of training, education and experience opportunities, but the transition to work outside can be more difficult.

The reasons for the difficulty involve some stereotypes about military styles of management, as well as a lack of networks into the communities where you are now seeking work.

To overcome these difficulties you need to present yourself and your CV in terms of skills and experiences that are transferable, and consciously trying to counter those stereotypes. You're getting interviews, which is a good sign. In the interim, seek feedback from every interviewer, and reflect on every interview that you have and try to think of the things that you could have handled better. Keep an open mind to new career possibilities, network through industry associations, community groups and chambers of commerce, to identify other opportunities and let others know that you are seeking work.