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Get A Job: E-Mail Questions
Friday, February 23, 2001 - 12:00 AM ET

CBS/AP

(CBS) Out of the hundreds of questions received by The Early Show for its Get A Job series, career coach Kate Wendleton selected one from Wendy A. Gavaghan of Milford, Conn.

Here is Gavaghan's letter:

Dear Ms. Wendleton:
I am a single woman with over 12 years of finance and accounting experience culminating as VP of Finance for a public manufacturing firm.
Basically, as CFO, as I was the highest ranking financial officer. I left the company in 1997 when I was informed that the Board, after we made an acquisition which would add another $10M annually, wanted to hire a CFO with an MBA, which I lacked...
I decided to take a few months off and do some traveling, I really hadn't had a vacation for five years and had been working 70-80 hour weeks...
My predicament is that was almost over three years ago and I am having a hard time generating any interest. I had been earning 125K a year, but would be able to consider less (70-80K). I am being told that I am overqualified for some positions, yet for positions which would utilize all my skills, the time away seems to impair obtaining a position. Can you recommend a strategy? For your benefit my summary of experience is below:
Regards,
Wendy A. Gavaghan

ProfessionalProfile:
Diversified, action-oriented senior level financial executive with over 10 years of broad-based financial and systems experience in venture capital and manufacturing industries. An innovative problem solver and visionary with the ability to address issues that impact business success leveraging people, time and technology.
Strengths:
Financial reporting and analysis, forecasting, budgeting, cash management, cost controls, systems, project management, business structuring acquisitions, strategic planning. Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to influence all levels of the organization from the front lines to senior management.

The following is Wendleton's reply:

Dear Ms. Gavaghan:

I worked with a senior-level woman in the financial services industry who had been out of work for over four years when I met her. It took her some time to land a job because of emotional problems. However, she landed a terrific six-figure job that turned out to be the happiest position she had ever been in.

She did what we tell Five O’Clock Clubbers do: make a list of companies to target, get in to see people who are higher level than you are – even thought they have no openings at the moment, keep in touch with them. You do need to account for the time, however.

My client said that she "had been working 80-hour weeks and needed a break. I took care of some family matters, and those are now cleared up. It has taken me a little while to decide on a career direction, but I am now back in the race and eager to work another twenty years."

Because she hustled getting to know people in the field and sounded so sincere and energetic, she ended up in the job of her dreams – a combination of financial services and health care.

You may want to take a look at our website – www.fiveoclockclub.com -- Take a look at out How to Find a Job section to see the approach we use.

Good luck. It’s not hopeless.

Kate

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Thank you for participating in our Get A Job series. E-mail questions were read and one was selected. Please read Wendleton Answers and a Chat Transcript from Feb. 21

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