The commute

Kathryn Crawford Saxer Career Transition

I used to commute to Redmond to a job I loved. But I can still feel the trapped frustration of sitting on the 520 bridge in the dark winter afternoon, rain streaking down the windshield, red brake lights as far as I could see. Just sitting, waiting, my youth ticking by. “What would the commute be like?” is one of my go-to questions when I help coaching clients evaluate job offers. The commute is easy to gloss over in the …

Personality assessment hogwash

Kathryn Crawford Saxer Career Transition

Prospective coaching clients sometimes ask me if I give personality assessments to help them determine their next steps in their careers. “Assessments are a bit like reading your horoscope,” I reply. “Fun, but not as helpful as maybe you’re hoping it will be for your career development.” Some coaches swear by assessments, but that’s not how I coach. I don’t think career development works that way. “But wouldn’t it be helpful to know what career my personality type is best …

Break your phone!

Kathryn Crawford Saxer A Little Kindness

I watched my phone slip through my fingers, flip in the air and land face down on the concrete. I knew it was going to be bad. The screen was shattered. A shard of glass stabbed my finger when I tried to swipe the screen. My phone spent a week in the shop. This is what I learned in its absence: I read more. I finished one of the nonfiction, work-related books that I’ve been meaning to read forever. (I even …

Dog farts

Kathryn Crawford Saxer Career Management

“Ice cream makes dogs fart,” I told the little boy offering his ice-cream cone to my dog. Zilly and I were minding our own business, waiting for a friend at the park, when we were suddenly swarmed by ice-cream-eating 5-year-olds. At the word “fart,” the little kids erupted in a group belly laugh. Nothing funnier than talking about farts when you’re 5. There was a moment of appalled silence. “Jimmy!” his mom exclaimed. “We don’t talk …” And I realized I …

Not personable?

Kathryn Crawford Saxer Career Management

“I’m getting feedback that I’m not personable,” a beloved client told me. “I’m really focused on doing the work — and social chitchat seems like a waste of everyone’s time.” I looked at my client: a nice, kind man, a linear thinker, highly technical, high achieving. About five years into his career at a big tech company. “I’ve gotten advice that I should memorize one thing about each person at work, so that I can ask them about it and …