Q & A CAREER COACH
GO TO GREG
I was just laid off and have a generous severance package that covers me for the rest of the year. I’d like to take the summer off and look for a job in the fall. How will that gap in employment look to a prospective employer?
You’re a lucky guy — not everyone has the luxury of being able to make such decisions, and I know a lot of people with jobs who would trade places with you in a heartbeat. A prospective employer would completely understand and may even be a little envious. The bigger question is how much time do you think you need to find another job? Do you have the means to support yourself if you don’t find another gig before your severance runs out? If you don’t start looking for a job until the fall, that doesn’t give you a lot of time to land something. But, if you are going to chill for the next few months, stay in game shape. Make sure your resume is ready, make a list of contacts in your network and remain “camera ready” — you never know when the right opportunity will emerge. Otherwise, enjoy your sabbatical.
I’m a college student, and I have two summer-job opportunities. One is an internship at a financial firm that my parents say will help when I graduate, and the other is at a marina on Martha’s Vineyard, which may not help me in my career but will be MUCH more fun. I need you to break the stalemate.
Are you nuts? You think I’m going to come between you and your parents, no matter how well-intentioned but misguided their advice might be? In reality, it depends a lot on what you want to do with your career, and how close you are to graduation. If you are a rising senior and your interests are in finance, that points to your parents’ desires. However, if you have a few years to go before you graduate, unless that internship is a super plum opportunity that will really boost your job prospects, then dude, a summer on MV working the gorgeous boats sounds like a great gig to me. Besides, work is work, and it’s not like having that on your resume won’t count for something. That’s the best I can do for you, my friend. It sounds like a good choice to have either way. GregoryGiangrandeisa chiefhumanresourcesand communicationsofficerinthe mediaindustry.E-mailyourcareer questionstogotogreg@nypost.com. AndfollowGregonTwitter: @greggiangrande.HisGotoGreg podcastseriesisavailableatiTunes.