This one is good for all…
"The only way to discover the limits of the possible is to go beyond them into the impossible."
- - - Arthur C. Clarke
From: terrafirmapune@yahoogroups.com [mailto:terrafirmapune@yahoogroups.com] On Behalf Of www.terrafirmajobs.com
Sent: Thursday, November 20, 2008 11:37 AM
To: terrafirmapune@yahoogroups.com
Subject: 20 Tips for Career Survival
Greetings!
This week's article-' 20 Tips for Career Survival' gives tips to
prepare yourself for recessionary phase in global economy. But it is
also practical and relevant in any kind of business environment.
20 Tips for Career Survival
Preventive and Preemptive Moves
Lots of people are jittery about their jobs these days,and given the
constant stream of bad news about the economy, who can blame any
employee for being nervous? Below are 10 tips that might help you
keep your job, and 10 tips for being prepared if the ax falls and you
have to start a job search.
Show Up
Now is not the time to take ad hoc vacation or ask for a virtual-work
arrangement if it hasn't been in the plan thus far. Being present is
a key element of being kept on the payroll. If your job involves
working from home and occasionally showing up to a regional office,
now's the time to swing by.
Make Your Boss Look Good
Your boss is under pressure, too. Now is the time to become your
manager's trusted adviser and go-to person, not to tussle with him or
her over things that aren't critical.Establish yourself as a key
value producer and fully on-board player.
Cut Costs
Yes, there's a cost of doing business, but there are times it's
appropriate to go all out and times it's not. Now is the latter. If
you entertain clients, do so on a more modest scale. Don't put your
employer in the awkward spot of having to explain (to the media, an
analyst, a customer, or a board member) why that lavish off-site
couldn't be postponed.
Stand Out for the Right Reasons
That means for your accomplishments, positive attitude, and for going
the extra distance—not for being a whiner, a problem, or a pain. Now
is not the time to pursue an agenda beyond "helping the company make
money." Be known companywide or divisionwide as someone who looks out
for the organization.
Let People Know What You've Done
You'd need to start assessing your achievements for the year anyway
for a performance review. Work some of them into conversations,
memos, etc., where appropriate. The idea isn't to steal credit or to
be seen as trumpeting your own fabulousness but to remind your boss
of the difference that your work makes to the team and to the bottom
line.
Let People Know What You're Doing
Be transparent about your projects and how they're progressing. If
things aren't working, now is the time to drop them and go on to
productive ones. Many a staunch worker has been laid off due only to
the noncritical nature of his or her projects. Don't assume that your
boss is managing your projects with an eye toward your longevity.
It's up to you to learn what's important and what's not.
Finish Things Up
Having lots of loose ends won't make anyone think you're too
important to get rid of. It's easy to rely on being the most
experienced, busiest, or most battle-scarred player on the team and
believe that status will protect you. It won't, so make it your
business to be seen as efficient and as someone who accomplishes
things.
Be Flexible
Your stature on the team is hard-won, but if the company needs a
Chief Cook and Bottle Washer right now, you'd be wise to step up.
Flexibility in role, in title, and in tasks is a big deal when layoff
short lists are being written and reviewed. If you're the team's
usability guru but the campaign has fallen victim to the need to stay
afloat, be humble enough to write code and/or documentation if need
be.
Don't Be a Defeatist
If your time is spent on Monster because of your fear of imminent
layoffs, that will be evident to your co-workers. Keep your mind in
the game until you've been told not to. Confidence and hope for the
future are traits that employers look to in their team members during
challenging times.
Be Realistic
You deserve more money, a bigger title, and an office with a view—
agreed. Now may not be the time to push for them, nor is it the time
to talk to your boss about your five-year plan in the organization.
His or her mind is on immediate concerns like making the payroll and
keeping the company's stock listed. Managers pay attention to who
gets it in times like this and who's oblivious.
Firm Up Your References
Part of being realistic is accepting that your job may not survive,
so among the things you should do just in case is firm up your
references. Many employers limit managers to just-the-facts
references, and what you need is a hearty endorsement with plenty of
savory details. Cultivate two or three references before you need
them. A great lineup: one lofty (vice-president or higher) reference;
one direct-supervisor reference (from a former job, or a boss from
your current employer who's no longer working there); and one from a
co-worker.
Get Your Name Out
If you don't have one already, you'll want to get a LinkedIn profile
and begin inviting your business friends and colleagues—past and
present—to connect. Basic membership is free, and having a LinkedIn
profile will make it easier for recruiters and hiring managers to
find you. Once your profile is set up, ask a few managers, clients,
and/or vendors to write LinkedIn endorsements for you—a virtual
reference that doesn't require reaching someone by phone.
Assemble Your Tool Kit
If a job search is in your future, you'll need a grown-up, personal e-
mail address (jane.r.sm...
janeloveschnauz.
message that sounds like a person you'd want to hire. If you may be
laid off soon,invest a few dollars in job-search business cards from
Vistaprint.com. Those will include your name, e-mail address and
phone, a few bullet points about your skills and desired position,
and the URL to your LinkedIn profile
Get Your Contacts Together
Way too many taken-by-surprise layoff victims leave their offices
without taking their valuable contacts with them. Now, while you have
time, scour your e-mail address book and workplace files for contacts
you'll take with you in electronic form if your job should disappear.
(Of course, don't take any proprietary information with you.
Refresh Your Résumé
Most of us have out-of-date résumés sitting in a forgotten corner of
our hard drives. Find that lost puppy, then update it to make sure it
represents who you are now. Add your current position and your
pithiest accomplishments in bullet form, plus a clear and human
summary that tells employers at a glance what you've done and what
you're seeking.
Check In with Your Search Pals
If you don't know a management recruiter, now is a good time to
befriend one. Ask friends or use an online community for recruiter
recommendations in your functional area and region. Make time to chat
with one or two local search pros to bring them up to date on your
skills and career plans. If you need a recruiter down the road,
you'll be glad you made the connection ahead of time.
Go for the Résumé Fodder
Every day on the job look for résumé fodder that will make you more
appealing to prospective employers. Taking on a mission-critical
project is an obvious way to build your résumé's heft, but there are
others: cross-training with a peer to learn what he/she does and vice
versa; creating a high-stakes presentation for an upcoming leadership
meeting. You won't be able to enrich your résumé once you leave your
job. Do it now!
Survey the Market
Do you know how desirable your experience is on the local job market?
Most of us don't. Use a jobs aggregation site like Indeed.com or
SimplyHired.
selling. Set up an e-mail jobs alert to tell you when new jobs
fitting your specs show up on the site. If you find that your skills
aren't in demand, now's the time to shift your résumé and your story
in the direction of what employers are looking for.
Know Your Price
If you may be job-hunting, you'll want to know what your skill and
résumé will fetch on the market. Use sites like Glassdoor.com and
Payscale.com to gauge your salary level and create a compensation
target for your next job search, whenever it happens.
Pare Expenses
Our last tip is to create a fund to tide you over during a job
search. Unemployment compensation will not cover your bills and
severance is unpredictable, as is the amount of time you'll be out of
work. Look at your household expenses to see what you could eliminate
or reduce to build a cash reserve. If the rug is pulled out from
under you, you'll be glad you put off the
intensive Italian language lessons.
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