mercedsunstar.com :: Stop! Tombstone, luck

START THINKING

Q: I am asking you to visit my home page and give some hints about what I can do with my career. Thanks in advance. -- In Place

A: Dear In Place, Your 10 pages raise too many questions. Don't ask employers to wade in the deep! Throw the health conditions -- and the terrorist attack that caused them -- out of the water. Insert your citizenship status.

You're a multilingual dietician, nutritionist and educator with international experience. Do you enjoy marketing or would you be willing to do it? You could consult to multinational food manufacturers or to governmental entities worldwide. You might get a grant (www.fdncenter.org). You might work for a foundation determining which projects to fund.

Where can your career take you? Where you want it to go. But that requires some research, more analysis and lots of thought. Stop writing about yourself and start exploring the world of options in front of you. Which door do you want to open? Reshape your resume to a page or two. Draft a brief cover letter. Start prying open the door. -- mlc

GRAVEYARD

Q: My resume is falling flat. Any ideas? -- Washed Out

A: Egad, Washed, Call your local newspaper's obituary section and place your resume there. It's lifeless, except for the accomplishments.

Your objective is about you, not what you want to do: "Advance the career of a very responsible, dedicated . . ." What DO you want to do? Use a title or function, such as TEAM LEADER or TEAM SUPERVISOR in IT. Then mention "experienced in . . . .".

Your industry prefers a chronological resume. But break some rules. Put your first civilian job first; the short-term one second. After each title and company name, list the years. Place youraccomplishments under the appropriate job in descending order. Do the same with your military experience. Sell it. Mention accomplishments that might transfer to the private sector.

Use the heading EDUCATION AND RECOGNITION to showcase scholarships. Trim that Bachelor of Science to B.S. Suggest serenity by eliminating your Associate degrees. Unless you're a dinosaur, include the date on any degree mentioned.

What about an OTHER section? Technology, licenses, memberships, willingness to relocate?

So much for that cemetery. -- mlc

**blogTip**

IN THE CARDS You've planned how you want to earn your living. You took courses that made sense. You wisely took an entry-level job in a very crowded field so you could see what goes on from the ground floor. Monday mornings you awaken without curiosity, excitement or expectation.

Eileen Shapiro and Howard Stevenson, in "Make Your Own Luck" (forthcoming, May, Portfolio, $23.95) write that openness to change is essential. Sticking to a plan when you're getting signs that it's not working may deny you opportunities. Not having a Plan B can cost you valuable time, they write. And in job hunting and career developing, time is important, closing doors on some opportunities and sticking it to your wallet. Last week's Plan B might become this week's Plan A.

"Scan the horizon and make the call," they advise. Write down "neon clues" -- events that don't synchronize with your expectations -- and "fuzzy clues" -- odd things or "a nagging sense that things are out of place." Be aware of the passage of time as your plan lurches, or doesn't, into development. Decide whether to act and, if so, how. Then do.

Why? You'll put yourself into a better position "to make your own luck by seizing the new high ground and investing your 100 marbles there . . ." Not to mention how alive you'll feel on Monday mornings.