Job Search or Career Recalibration Opportunity?

California just confirmed 12% of its residents are officially out of work. Highest in the nation.

Troubling.

It’s worse than that if you include people who are not collecting unemployment or registering in such a way that the state’s spreadsheet can count them,… “you know it, I know it and the American people know it.”

That’s Even More Troubling.

For those affected, this can be treated as an opportunity to make the career change that they have desired but couldn’t or wouldn’t. In more abundant times, if you quit your job to embark on a new direction, friends and family would milk-spit in shock and chastise you for taking an unreasonable risk.

The status quo can be soooooo comforting.

Today, however, if you make the same proclamation, friends and family offer encouragement and support. That level of community and encouragement is vital. Although, part of that may be to get some of you off the couch in their family room. You know who you are.

So what is the desire of your heart? What career change have you secretly, or not-so-secretly wanted to make? Ahem, leave “helping people” or “saving the dolphins” to super models or over-medicated actresses. Excuse the absurdity of that last comment – you get the point.

Where is your heart? Do you have a plan sitting in a drawer? A book, or a folder full of yellowed newspaper clippings and articles torn from magazines? Whatever it is, get it out, spread it out and check it out. Those are the raw materials from which you need to architect a plan.

Start with your current job and think about everything. What do you like or dislike about your function? What about the industry? Boring, exciting or going bankrupt and you are forced to find a new pasture? How about the company itself? Mom-n-pop, start-up, medium size or corporate goliath? Which of the above do you find satisfying – or even just comfortable?

In The Rat, The Race and the Cage, I help you with part of this. Give it a read and add it to what should be a backpack full of supplies for the journey.

Maybe things are not so troubling after all.

“And the men who hold high places, must be the ones who start.
To mold a new reality, closer to the heart.”
Closer to The Heart
– RUSH

Career Emergency Plan

It’s a cycle…  news feeds are buzzing with information about an increase in jobless claims:

– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –
… The Labor Department reported [insert your favorite random date here] that new claims for unemployment benefits rose by X,000 last week to XXX,000. It marked the umpteenth increase in the past several months and was a further sign that the economy is feeling the impact of a steep slump in housing and credit crisis.  The surprisingly bad report increased worries that the hoped for economic recovery could be in danger of falling into a deeper recession..”
– – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – – –

When we look at a nation of 300 million people, it’s difficult to get revved-up about more jobless claims. Don’t many people get fired in a typical week for poor performance or otherwise behaving badly?

Yes, but that’s not the point. The issue is the trend.

If the US is, indeed, heading into a recession, it’s time to look at the industry you work in and objectively ask, “Are we next?” If you work in construction or the lending side of financial services, the truth is already clear and you are hurting.

The impact on other industries and markets takes time to materialize. For example, there’s approximately 100 pounds of copper in a typical new home. Copper mining and the manufacturing of pipes, faucets, water heaters and the like are in line to feel the pinch as well. You get the idea.

The question is this: Do you have a Career Emergency Plan?

Hotels have evacuation plans printed on the back of doors. Schools conduct fire drills. Prudent parents have plans for evacuating the house as well as reunion points in case of family or civil emergencies. Looking through that lens, what’s your Career Emergency Plan?

If your job was eliminated today, where would you go? Could you stay in your current community or would you be forced to relocate? These are questions you need to ask and answer today – before the need for actual implementation arises.

First, evaluate your skills.

More importantly, assess the applicability of your skills. Break the job and the industry apart. Avoid lumping your industry and position into the same description. For example, “I have been a copywriter in automotive marketing for 7 years.” immediately limits your applicability to the automotive industry. Instead, think of, and describe, yourself this way “I’ve been a copywriter for 7 years working on corporate marketing teams.” Get it? Now you are ready to sell yourself to potential employers in other industries.

Second, take a wider look at the industry in which you work.

How is it similar (or not) to companies in other industries in your community? If you have skills that are applicable to different industries, you have a path to take if the industry you are in takes an economic dive.

Third, keep the size and type of company in mind.

If you have been a corporate manager for several years, you know the ins and outs of layered management and the pains of bureaucracy. On the other hand, if smaller companies have been your habitat, you understand the extreme importance and impact of every person and customer.

Fourth, put it all to work in a “fire drill” setting.

Stay generally abreast of the hiring pace of companies in your community. Ask yourself the question, “Could I take my skills there?” Play out your Career Emergency Plan in your head from time to time – just like the walk to the playground at school fire drills.

Additional guidance down this line of thinking is detailed in my book The Rat, The Race, and The Cage.

Good luck.

“…black cat crossed my path, no reason to run and hide,
you’re looking through a cracked mirror, no one knows the reason why.”
Bad Luck – Social Distortion

3 HUGE Change Mistakes – How to Avoid Them

“I regret taking this job!” Does that lament sound all-too familiar?

If you feel unsatisfied about a recent job change, you are not alone. A Harris Interactive survey uncovered evidence that significant numbers of people are disenchanted with their new jobs:
– 45 percent of workers say they are satisfied or extremely satisfied with their jobs
– 33 percent believe they have reached a dead end in their career
– 21 percent are eager to change careers

People who are unhappy or dissatisfied with a new job likely made one of three easily-avoidable mistakes en route to their new job. Additionally, people who have been forced by the economy to make job changes can also fall into the same traps.

Let’s take a look at those missteps and how you can avoid them.

1. Jumping Impulsively From a Bad Situation
Everyone is eager to leave a bad job. But rather than jumping ship at the first sign of trouble, be patient in making your decision. While it’s not easy to be patient when you desperately want to get out of an unpleasant job situation, you will be glad you waited for the right opportunity.
A positive perspective is important. Tell yourself, “I am going to find a wonderful job opportunity and make a great career choice” rather than dwelling on the negative. Starting each day with “I can’t wait to get out of here!” does not put you in a positive frame of mind. The difference in those two perspectives is extremely important. Always put the positive first. It will show in everything you do.
Stay upbeat and confident. Not only will this help you get through the final chapter in your current job, your demeanor will be apparent to those who interview you. Prospective employers are looking for positive energy, stability and resiliency along with the specific skills that pertain to a particular position.

2. Walking Across the Street for Money
By far, the easiest job change is to take exactly the same job you have now with a new company – usually a competitor in the same industry. Typically a recruiter or other contact within the industry calls you. Before you know it, you’ve had an interview and an offer.
While this fast-paced, flattering experience likely yields a raise and a new boss, it does not usually result in other changes or career growth opportunities. The industry environment, customers and your job function are typically unchanged. Within a few months, the new job will feel exactly like the old job in almost all aspects – except for the people.
Unless you have a burning desire to hold the same position with a competitor, it’s usually best to avoid this type of job change altogether. If you are looking to ply your skills in a new way, or in a new industry, it will take more than mailing your resume to one company. This type of change will require a concerted effort that includes researching the new industry and the type of position you are seeking (marketing, sales, finance, etc.). Most industries have trade associations that operate websites containing a tremendous amount of useful information. Seeking individuals who currently hold positions or work for companies that are of interest to you can also yield key information. Insights and job leads from such individuals is often more current and insightful than any other resource.

3. Failing to Make the Right Change
When making a decision to change jobs, take a methodical approach. An old maxim says, “The more time you spend understanding a situation, the less time you spend finding an solution and the more chance that it is correct.”
If you primarily seek more opportunity for advancement, be sure that any job opportunities you consider provide it. If you hope to move to a new geographical location, don’t even sniff at opportunities nearby, regardless of the salary or benefits. Stay true to your plan and accept the job that addresses your key objective(s).

The Well-Crafted Job Change Battle Plan
Planning is the key element that will help you avoid those common mistakes. Here’s a simple process to ensure you build a well-crafted job change battle plan:

First, enlist a group of friends and mentors who truly know you, your skills, habits and career background. Objectively provide these individuals with the facts surrounding your job situation. Be careful not to color the facts with emotions or feelings as this makes it difficult for others to assess the information. Ask them to be brutally honest about the career skills and personal attributes they see in you. This objective feedback is critical as the career decision you will make will be influenced by it.

Second, look at all parts of your job: its function, the industry or product, and the type of company. Taking a look at all three elements is a simple but powerful way to help you evaluate your current job situation. Armed with that information, you can build a plan that acts as a compass that points you to a brighter future.

Third, consider taking a basic career assessment test that will pinpoint your strengths and weaknesses. You can find these tests at any number of career resource websites. Incorporating this feedback into your plan will help you more clearly focus your efforts.
Higher levels of career satisfaction await you.

Get a clean piece of paper and start making your plan today!

“Do you wake-up on your own,… and wonder where you are?”
Slide – Goo Goo Dolls

*“The New Employee/Employer Equation Survey” was conducted by Harris Interactive, Inc., a leading market research firm, and included responses from a nationwide sample of 7,718 American employees 18 and over.