Strategic Serendipity

A little over twenty years ago, my friend and I jumped in her car the day after finals and moved to Washington, DC, without a place to live or a job (both of which were remedied within 48 hours of arriving in DC - ahhhh the good old days).  Today I pack up again.  Now I have a legal career I am proud to have served in, a new business in Executive Coaching with certifications in multiple areas, a two-year old son I couldn't be more proud of, and a new chapter ahead. While I will return to DC for work over the next few years, I will have a new home in the heart of the Midwest.  I will miss the friends I have made here but I look forward to renewing old friendships, making new friends, and reconnecting with family I have been away from for too long.  I leave the comfort of having four Starbucks within walking distance and a grocery store in the basement of my condo for the comfort of having both parents within a mile of home.  The nearest Starbucks will be about ...

No, I have not lost my mind.  It is the classic catch-22 - you can't get the job you want until you have experience and you can't get the experience because they won't hire you.  It is the same for new college graduates, mid-career transitions, and moving up the corporate ladder.  So how do you get that coveted "experience" to land you your dream job? I have always believed that volunteering offers you a chance to give back to your community and try out new things without making a major career change.  If you have an opportunity to serve on a committee that is in the area you think you want to go in, I say jump on it.  Not only do you get an insider's view of the position and some coveted "experience" but you will likely find some top notch mentors along the way. I also think that taking on volunteer or collateral duties at work is a great way to challenge yourself, network with others, and try something out on a temporary basis.  If you learn b...