A Career Management Poster Child
Three
weeks ago I was contacted by Jim Wright, a young man from
Cincinnati, OH, seeking career counseling and resume
services. Of course, Jim is not his real name, nor is Cincinnati his
real location -- but all the other details you'll read here are
true. Jim has given me permission to share his story, but, for
obvious reasons, wants to keep his identity private.
Jim is 35
years old and has been with his current company (a top tier weather
services information provider) for 10 years. During that time,
he's progressed quickly and now manages a national sales staff
of 10. Jim loves the competition, the opportunity to develop
his team and his clients -- top media giants across the United
States.
Paid
well. Loves his work. May or may not be interested in a job
search or career change.
So...why
did Jim come to me? The last time I checked, I work with
seekers -- career changers and job searchers. Often unhappy --
or at least frustrated -- and unemployed.
When I
asked Jim why he sought me out, he replied "Because I never want
to be caught flat-footed. I've never had career guidance before
and I want to make sure I'm where I should be. I don't want to
rest on my laurels -- and I definitely want to maximize my
career fulfillment."
And he
went on: "I see what's happening all around me.
Downsizing and layoffs, and most of these folks are not ready
for a job search. That's just not gonna' happen to me. I
believe in being prepared."
You could
have blown me over with a feather. In spite of its wisdom, and encouragement from well-known proponents like
Tom Peters and Richard Bolles, (not to mention publications such
as Fortune and the Wall Street Journal), pro-active career
management is still rare. It is easier to take the path of
least resistance and hope for the best.
Perhaps
the biggest barrier is cost. A professional resume costs up
to $500 and counseling could close to double that, maybe more.
But there is a compelling ROI for being ready: compare the cost
of counseling or the cost of a resume to being out of work for
even one extra month. For most corporate professionals, that's a no brainer.
At the very least, give some thought to your degree of risk by answering “yes” or “no” to these 7 questions:
- Have there been layoffs in my industry?
- Has my company downsized employees in the past?
- Is my company financially and strategically viable?
- Has it been over a year since I last updated my resume?
- Would I be in financial trouble if I was out of work for an extended period?
- Am I the sole, or most significant, breadwinner in our family?
-
Will my job be difficult to find somewhere else?
If you
answered “yes” to over half of these questions, you may be at
risk. Think about the various ways you could reduce your risk
in the near term. Update your resume? Enhance your network?
Research recruiters?
Then, like Jim Wright, take the bull by the horns and make it happen.
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© Copyright 2001-2008 PurposefulWork.com. Reprinted by permission of Patricia Soldati, an IAC certified coach, career counselor and certified professional resume writer who helps corporate professionals advance their careers. For information about her services, visit http://www.purposefulwork.com.
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