Is it Time to Find a New Job?

Career Builder ran a piece today about deciding when it's time to leave your current job. While the right time is different for everyone, here are the signs I recommend you look for when considering a job change or career move.

Job change...

1. You are no longer challenged by or interested in the tasks that you perform.
2. You are not being paid competitively and attempts to negotiate your salary have not changed your situation.

Career change....

1. You consistently question the value of what you do.
2. You spend a significant amount of time thinking about pursuing another line of work.
3. Your industry is shrinking and you have witnessed significant downsizing in your company or industry.
   
4. You have consistently received poor performance reviews or you are on corrective action.

What has triggered you to make a job or career change? What benefits did you derive from doing so?

To read more about warning signs that signal it's time to leave a job and advice on general job search strategy, check out my interview on the They Tell You How blog.

Career Management Resolutions for 2008

In the spirit of the New Year, here are some easy to implement resolutions to get your career management strategy on track for 2008.

1. Go to lunch. I meet a lot of people who never take a lunch hour because they are too busy working. Don't make this mistake. The lunch hour is a great time to solidify relationships with colleagues, mentors, friends, and family. More lunch buddies means more networking and potentially more job opportunities down the road. Try to eat with different people over the course of a month and get in the habit of introducing people over lunch. Be a connector so people will want to connect you to others in the future.
   
2. Get a hobby. Everyone has something outside of work that they are interested in. But many people find excuses for not pursuing hobbies and interests. Having a hobby helps build affinity with others. Running clubs, knitting clubs, book clubs, etc. help people bond and develop trust. Friendship grows out of trusting relationships. The more friends you have, the greater the likelihood that they will share information about professional opportunities that may interest you.
   
3. Join a professional association. Professional associations offer many great opportunities to connect with colleagues. Find an appropriate association in your field and do more than just show up. Offer to work the registration table at an event, contribute content to the association's newsletter, or be part of a panel for an upcoming event. Involvement leads to familiarity, and familiarity leads to opportunities sourced through other members of the association.
   
4. Reconnect with old friends. Friends are usually flattered when you take the time to find them and learn about what they are doing. Try to find old schoolmates through Classmates.com or your college's alumni directory. CorporateAlumni.com is helpful for trying to find previous work colleagues. Facebook is also a great tool for finding friends and it's not just for college kids anymore.
   
5. Get organized. As you build your list of new contacts, organizing their information can be a bit overwhelming. Use an electronic career management tool such as JibberJobber to keep your information current and at your fingertips.
   
6. Update your resume. Don't wait until you find the perfect posting on line or meet the right decision maker at a networking event. Always have an updated resume ready to send to your contacts. Get a free assessment of your current resume here.
   
7. Get online. If a recruiter or hiring manager wanted to know more about you, would they be able to find you on line? Put your full name in quotes on Google or another search engine and find out what information is available about you. If there is nothing there or you don't like what you see, start creating a web presence using tools such as Linked In, ZoomInfo, and Ziggs.
   
8. Go on an informational interview. One of the best ways to learn more about opportunities in your field or another field you are considering transitioning into is to talk to people who are currently doing the type of work you think you would like to be doing. In an informational interview, any question is fair game, and you can receive authentic answers to what it's really like to be in a particular professional role. These types of interviews help you validate your perceptions about a certain profession and adjust your career aspirations based on the information you receive.

Try to implement at least one of these suggestions in early 2008 and find ways to incorporate other strategies into your career management plan throughout the rest of the year. Best wishes for a happy, healthy, and prosperous New Year!

Over on the Human Resources Executive Search blog, there is a great post about how to assimilate successfully into a new company and job. When you join a new organization, it's important to observe before you act, immerse yourself in the company's culture, and cultivate relationships with people who can serve as mentors. It's generally recommended that you avoid making significant changes when you first arrive or saying things like "When I was at company XYZ, we did it this way"

The first 90 days in a new job provides an opportunity for you to solidify the relationship that you created during the interview process, build credibility and trust, and prove that you fit into the company and culture.

Career Management 101

Over on the Cube Rules blog, there is a post about the fact that people take various career paths following a layoff, but few plan for such an event. People plan for so many life events; weddings, college, vacations...Yet few map out a career management strategy that includes annual goal setting and reflection. As a result, we are frequently caught off guard following a life changing event such as a layoff. I've seen every possible emotion from people following a downsizing from shock to fear to anger to depression and the people who suffer the most are the ones who never took the time to think of the "what if" scenarios.

Employers aren't life partners. The relationship can change on a dime if the business conditions warrant it. If you are currently in a job search due to a corporate restructuring, this is a hard lesson to learn. Take the time to map out a career plan, update your resume, and foster relationships with friends and colleagues who can help you weather the storm.