By : Shell Lisoskie
Imagine you are sitting in your office, busy working on the next deadline, when your boss comes in with someone from HR, shuts the door and proceeds with, "As you know, our region hasn't been as profitable as we had hoped..."
The next thing you know, you're driving home with a car full of "personal effects". You would probably spend the rest of the afternoon in shock, trying to figure out what to do next, right?
Well, what if, within minutes of getting home, you could have interviews already set up for the next week and a plan in place that would all but guarantee a job offer within the next 90 days!
It happened to me, but I wasn't in shock - instead I had my plan and by 4 pm on the same day that I was laid off, I had 2 in-person interviews and 4 phone interviews scheduled for the following week. And things progressed from there. Within less than 12 weeks I had landed a better job, with a better company. The pay was a bit less than I had earned before, but the opportunity was solid, provided professional growth and I didn't have to relocate.
How did I get back into the workforce so quickly compared to the majority of unemployed executives out there whose average wait time is over 12 months? While there are no guarantees in life, I can assure you that if you follow the same 10 steps I did, you will be in a much better position to get the interviews and negotiate for a great opportunity in less time than it's taken the average person out there.
Step 1: Accept change - The concept of the gold watch after 30 years has not been a reality in the workplace for a few decades now. But I'm still amazed at those who still believe their job will be around forever at the same company. Whether you move into a different position at the same company or leave and go to a competitor, your work life will change. And it may not always be your choice.
Step 2: Know your limits - We would all like to think we are the best at what we do, but that's simply not true. There is always someone out there who's better, and someone who's worse. You need to figure out where you and your skills land in the bell-shaped curve of the talent pool. This level of personal reflection will guide you through Step 3.
Step 3: Reach your potential - The fact that you have a degree doesn't mean you are done training. And if you don't have a degree or professional certification, it's time to take a serious look at where you are in comparison to others in your profession. Like I pointed out in Step 2, you need to evaluate where you sit in the talent pool. Are you diving in and beating the competition? Floating at the shallow end? Drowning in the middle? Or are you just sitting on the side, dipping your toes in the water?
Step 4: Get a study buddy - I'm not talking about a mentor, here. That's for Step 5. I'm talking about partnering with one of your co-workers who's in a similar position or place in his career. You don't have to be enrolled in school to have someone to study with. Maybe you two just pick a book you are going to read together and discuss. Or perhaps you are going to take a seminar or class together, then apply what you learn at work. You might take the plunge and enroll in a degree or certification program. Whatever you decide to do, you must hold each other accountable for outcomes.
Step 5: Find a mentor - I prefer to find a mentor from outside my current company. I look for people within my community or association groups; someone I admire and trust to give me an objective
viewpoint on my situation and personal growth, and who will tell it to me straight. A great mentor will commit to helping you get to the next level in your professional life. Your mentor doesn't need to be from your industry, but it can be helpful and I would suggest it if you are in an industry that is highly specialized.
Step 6: Become a joiner - Up until now, you may have resisted joining a professional association because of the cost and time commitment. Well, if an obvious mentor didn't come to mind during Step 5, then you definitely need to belong to a professional or civic organization where you will meet potential mentors. Active participation in these groups requires scheduling and commitment, but is worth it.
Step 7: Be a great employee - No matter what your boss throws at you, catch it with a smile and make it work. Keep your negative opinions to yourself and be the resident cheerleader for your department. In the spirit of President Kennedy, ask what you can do for your company, not what your company can do for you. If you do this, you can leave (or get laid off) and proudly talk about your excellent track record as a deal maker, problem solver, and motivator. Your coworkers and other supervisors will appreciate you while you are there and will be able to speak well of you after you leave.
Step 8: Promote yourself - If you wait until you lose your job to advertise your skills and experience, it will be too late. The days of sending resumes and cover letters are over. Online application systems are just electronic versions of the "circular file". Your resume goes in and gets chewed up by key-word finders, then lost in the shuffle. The old adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know," has and always will be the mantra to success. Use social and professional networking sites, blogs and emails to get the word out about projects you're working on and developments you have been a part of.
Step 9: Keep working - If you get laid off, don't expect to use this time as a mini-vacation. On the contrary, your first new job will be to get a new job! Take advantage of this time to plan your strategy based on these steps and other career planning tools available to you.
Step 10: Have a back-up plan - Most financial planners will tell you to have at least the equivalent of 6 months' salary in savings available for emergencies such as being laid off. That's a great goal, but one that seems unattainable to most people. If you don't already have money saved up, then get started now! Several banks have debit card plans that allow you to "keep the change" on every transaction. This may seem like the nickel and dime approach, but have you ever filled a jar with change? It adds up quickly. Find another income stream. Do you have a specialized skill? Offer your services through your associations.
As I said in the beginning of this article, don't wait until you are laid off to plan your strategy. And if you have already been laid off and are still looking for work, these steps can still help you. The point is, don't wait for someone else to decide your life. Take control and do what you can now to set yourself up for success in the future.
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
Imagine you are sitting in your office, busy working on the next deadline, when your boss comes in with someone from HR, shuts the door and proceeds with, "As you know, our region hasn't been as profitable as we had hoped..."
The next thing you know, you're driving home with a car full of "personal effects". You would probably spend the rest of the afternoon in shock, trying to figure out what to do next, right?
Well, what if, within minutes of getting home, you could have interviews already set up for the next week and a plan in place that would all but guarantee a job offer within the next 90 days!
It happened to me, but I wasn't in shock - instead I had my plan and by 4 pm on the same day that I was laid off, I had 2 in-person interviews and 4 phone interviews scheduled for the following week. And things progressed from there. Within less than 12 weeks I had landed a better job, with a better company. The pay was a bit less than I had earned before, but the opportunity was solid, provided professional growth and I didn't have to relocate.
How did I get back into the workforce so quickly compared to the majority of unemployed executives out there whose average wait time is over 12 months? While there are no guarantees in life, I can assure you that if you follow the same 10 steps I did, you will be in a much better position to get the interviews and negotiate for a great opportunity in less time than it's taken the average person out there.
Step 1: Accept change - The concept of the gold watch after 30 years has not been a reality in the workplace for a few decades now. But I'm still amazed at those who still believe their job will be around forever at the same company. Whether you move into a different position at the same company or leave and go to a competitor, your work life will change. And it may not always be your choice.
Step 2: Know your limits - We would all like to think we are the best at what we do, but that's simply not true. There is always someone out there who's better, and someone who's worse. You need to figure out where you and your skills land in the bell-shaped curve of the talent pool. This level of personal reflection will guide you through Step 3.
Step 3: Reach your potential - The fact that you have a degree doesn't mean you are done training. And if you don't have a degree or professional certification, it's time to take a serious look at where you are in comparison to others in your profession. Like I pointed out in Step 2, you need to evaluate where you sit in the talent pool. Are you diving in and beating the competition? Floating at the shallow end? Drowning in the middle? Or are you just sitting on the side, dipping your toes in the water?
Step 4: Get a study buddy - I'm not talking about a mentor, here. That's for Step 5. I'm talking about partnering with one of your co-workers who's in a similar position or place in his career. You don't have to be enrolled in school to have someone to study with. Maybe you two just pick a book you are going to read together and discuss. Or perhaps you are going to take a seminar or class together, then apply what you learn at work. You might take the plunge and enroll in a degree or certification program. Whatever you decide to do, you must hold each other accountable for outcomes.
Step 5: Find a mentor - I prefer to find a mentor from outside my current company. I look for people within my community or association groups; someone I admire and trust to give me an objective
viewpoint on my situation and personal growth, and who will tell it to me straight. A great mentor will commit to helping you get to the next level in your professional life. Your mentor doesn't need to be from your industry, but it can be helpful and I would suggest it if you are in an industry that is highly specialized.
Step 6: Become a joiner - Up until now, you may have resisted joining a professional association because of the cost and time commitment. Well, if an obvious mentor didn't come to mind during Step 5, then you definitely need to belong to a professional or civic organization where you will meet potential mentors. Active participation in these groups requires scheduling and commitment, but is worth it.
Step 7: Be a great employee - No matter what your boss throws at you, catch it with a smile and make it work. Keep your negative opinions to yourself and be the resident cheerleader for your department. In the spirit of President Kennedy, ask what you can do for your company, not what your company can do for you. If you do this, you can leave (or get laid off) and proudly talk about your excellent track record as a deal maker, problem solver, and motivator. Your coworkers and other supervisors will appreciate you while you are there and will be able to speak well of you after you leave.
Step 8: Promote yourself - If you wait until you lose your job to advertise your skills and experience, it will be too late. The days of sending resumes and cover letters are over. Online application systems are just electronic versions of the "circular file". Your resume goes in and gets chewed up by key-word finders, then lost in the shuffle. The old adage, "It's not what you know, it's who you know," has and always will be the mantra to success. Use social and professional networking sites, blogs and emails to get the word out about projects you're working on and developments you have been a part of.
Step 9: Keep working - If you get laid off, don't expect to use this time as a mini-vacation. On the contrary, your first new job will be to get a new job! Take advantage of this time to plan your strategy based on these steps and other career planning tools available to you.
Step 10: Have a back-up plan - Most financial planners will tell you to have at least the equivalent of 6 months' salary in savings available for emergencies such as being laid off. That's a great goal, but one that seems unattainable to most people. If you don't already have money saved up, then get started now! Several banks have debit card plans that allow you to "keep the change" on every transaction. This may seem like the nickel and dime approach, but have you ever filled a jar with change? It adds up quickly. Find another income stream. Do you have a specialized skill? Offer your services through your associations.
As I said in the beginning of this article, don't wait until you are laid off to plan your strategy. And if you have already been laid off and are still looking for work, these steps can still help you. The point is, don't wait for someone else to decide your life. Take control and do what you can now to set yourself up for success in the future.
Job Vacancy , Indonesia Job , Job Indonesia
No comments:
Post a Comment