Why don't we talk about financial privilege during the job hunt?
Mandy Brown, EMBA
Sr Learning Solutions & Instructional Designer | Neurodivergent & Trauma-informed Career Mentor | Newsletter & Blog Writer
Previously published in Experience Points, a newsletter dedicated to supporting professionals like you in the job hunt, wellness, and developing business acumen. Click here to learn more.
I remember being a teacher looking at all the bootcamps, resume-writing services, and career coaches... and thinking, "Where the heck would I get that kind of money?!"
Running my own business, I've had coaches reach out to me to offer their services and advice. And I've been shocked at their attitude and what they had to say:
It just made me feel icky talking to them.
Yes, when I made my transition, I signed up for a program. But I dipped into emergency savings to pay for it. (Which I really don't recommend doing!)
Money was so tight. My partner was on medical leave and disability. So we were on my income alone. And then I had to go on medical leave too, which eventually meant we didn't have any income sources.
Meanwhile people were trying to sell me all sorts of things at high price-tags!
We don't talk nearly enough about the financial privilege one needs to make a job change. And in the U.S., we make it an individual problem, telling people that they need to have emergency savings, that it's their fault if their laid-off, that if they just worked harder... We say privileged things like "If you want to make a job pivot, you have to put some skin in the game and invest the money to buy the tools." As though keeping a roof over our heads or food on the table doesn't have enough motivation or show we have investment.??
But this isn't an individual problem. It's a systematic issue. Not only that but...
No one gets where they are on their own! And if they say they did, they're either lying or severely ignorant of their privilege.
You don't have to join a bootcamp, get a degree, etc. to transition into a new role. It may or may not speed up the process. But ultimately, if you only have LinkedIn groups, internet access, free newsletters, and a library card, it is still possible to make your pivot.
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I'm rooting for you every step of the way!
If, dear reader, you have any specific questions about your pivot, leave a comment or send me a message. I'll respond back as I can and/or maybe even write about that topic in an upcoming issue (assuming consent).
A few freebie quick tips:
Yes, I'm running a business.
And yes, that business has to be self-sufficient at least.
While I can't give everything away, I do my best to create systems that make my offerings more accessible. That's why I have...
Read what others have said:
Mandy’s guidance helped me gain the confidence to reach out to hiring managers and network with professionals in the industry. Through our work together, I’ve landed interviews and received responses from recruiters, and I feel more confident in my job search. I recommend Mandy’s services to all who hope to find a new career—her expertise is a lifeline. - Katie Raddatz, 1:1 Mentee
I appreciate the blend of theory and reasoning behind the method and examples and hands-on practice writing throughout this course. Mandy explained why writing a certain way was important and then showed us how to do it, which helped me understand! - Andrea, April '24 Cohort Member
Customer Support Specialist
10 个月Mandy Brown, EMBA the thing that a lot of these high-ticket coaches often forget is that significant financial pressure kills creativity. When people don't know if they'll be able to pay rent or put food on the table, their body is automatically flooded with adrenaline and cortisol, which overrides their ability to think critically, engage socially, and bounce back from rejection. In other words, the most basic capacities required to make a career pivot hinge on financial security. And when this sense of financial security is missing, simply "trying harder" almost never yields results. And while I admire the empowered intention behind the idea of "investing in oneself," I often find that the conventional coaching approach is tragically disconnected from the realities of economic inequality and the sensitivities of the human nervous system. Kudos to you for giving people free and low-cost options, and making career fulfillment accessible.