Petti’s story – Looking for love [work] in all the wrong places!

After college I tried three different careers. Then finally, with the help of a career counselor, I finally found a career I loved: Employee Training and Development – helping employees develop their skills, be productive and enjoy their work.

Over the past 25 years I’ve worked at several different workplaces. I’ve worked for Fortune 500 companies and smaller, privately owned companies. I’ve worked for a non-profit and I’ve worked for myself. Some jobs were good and a few were great – for a while. I have personally experienced working at great jobs and seen them turn into huge disappointments, sucking dry my energy and closing down my creativity.

Over the years, I have looked for work at companies that would inspire me and provide a great place to work. I actually found such a company. Then after about three years there, the management changed, the culture changed, and what I was asked to do changed. Initially, I had made a good choice, but then changes came. And just like many relationships these changes led to a “divorce.”

What’s unique about me is that I can view my work experience through two different lenses. One lens reflects my personal experiences and feelings. The other is more objective and analytical, developed through my doctoral studies in Human Performance at Work. So not only have I been studying my own career path and satisfaction, but I’ve been observing what others need to be satisfied at work.

What’s needed to make employees happy and productive is simple – it’s not rocket science. But what’s missing is the commitment by employers to put their people before profits.

I have seen so many of my friends unhappy with their work and wished that there was a way to help them avoid the pain of a bad job. I thought that if I could give them the “inside scoop” on what it’s like to work for a company before committing to working there, possibly they could make better choices.

I came up with the idea for this business from my son. Here’s the story:

I had helped my son Kurtis select a career field he loved: cooking. I sent him to the best culinary school, the Culinary Institute of America in New York. While at a culinary event in New York City, he met the personable owner of one of the best restaurants in Orange County, California. The gentleman told my son to come see him about a job when he graduated – which Kurtis did. About six months after starting work there, I had my son and his wife over for dinner. I asked the typical question a parent asks: “How’s your new job?” He said (drum roll here): “If I’d had known what it’s really like to work there, I never would have taken the job.” WHAT? After all the careful career selection, the education, the internships – he hates his job. It was then that I realized what was missing. When planning to buy a car or big screen TV, I check out Consumer Reports. If I’m going to try out a new restaurant, I’ll see how it’s rated by Zagat. But where can I look if I want to check out a workplace – before I decide to work there? Answer: Nowhere. Thus the idea for The Workplace Review was born.

There’s tons of good career advice available. I am not replacing the critical role that career counselors, placement centers and online job sites have in helping you select WHAT you want to do and see who has job openings. I am complementing their services by helping you find a workplace that is really good for you.

Actually, job hunting is a bit like dating. You know what you want but it’s hard to find just the right person. Many of us keep on dating and keep on picking the wrong person. And yet, we’re still out there trying to find the “right one.” I’m often reminded of the song “Looking for love in all the wrong places”!

So today I’m a Workplace Matchmaker. I can help you to find the “right one.” I provide you with enough good, insider information about a workplace so that you can decide whether it’s the one for you.

What makes my day is when someone says, “I used what you told me about workplaces and I found one I really love.” Boy is that satisfying!