This is a quote from Thomas Edison.   A secure job can make your life easy and make you forget that it takes hard work to sustain your career.  We don't live in the world our Fathers earned a living, there is no reward for the work you did in the past. It is all about results today and results to come.  If you aren't ready to roll-up your sleeves and get your hands dirty then you aren't ready to keep your job.  The youth populating the workforce does not accept the concept of seniority, they will not respect your years of service and experience unless you demonstrate expertise that directly relates to the business of today.  Your greatest opportunity will come when you are prepared to make the people around you successful.

This is a quote from the the late John Wooden.   The workplace is all about change.  Change happens so fast it is almost impossible for change to be systematic or even organized.  If you are in a career transition right now you are reeling from the effects of change, you may even feel like you failed.  The only way you can really fail is if you quit!  If you are not ready to quit then be prepared to change, to adapt and to prevail.  Your greatest opportunity doesn't await in the world "used to be," but rather in the world of "what can be."

When a boss tells you, "I got your back,"  at work here are some likely realities.
1. He has afixed a traget to your back and knows exactly where to deliver the fatal blow.
2. You are oblivious to the fact that you have a blindside and he knows exactly how to manipuliate you.
3. Start looking for a new job because your boss is already looking for your replacement.
4. If you think he really is going to look out for you be prepared to have tread marks running up your backside because you'll never see it coming and you will have no idea what hits you.
5. The only person you can trust to take care of you is you, implement a 360 approach to your career.

Today in the USA Weekend there was an article titled “16 Healthy Tips for Feeling Better in 2010” written by Dr. Oz.  The last part of the article is labeled “Be Fearless.”  Oz says “Remember, the goldfish doesn’t know there is a world beyond the bowl until he is lifted out.  Similarly, you can’t appreciate your limitations until you have challenged and moved past them.”

Are you still swimming in the fishbowl that was your last position?  Are ready to jump out of that fishbowl and start swimming in open water?  There is an ocean of opportunity, so steer clear of the shark infested waters and set your course.

We all know that the past two years have been far more than a “challenge.”  There has been a scarcity of open positions.  If you’ve been one of the “lucky” ones to survive in a company that has been in a downward spiral you might not be feeling so lucky.  Companies have been forced to downsize to survive and in most cases the company chooses to keep whom they consider the valuable assets.  This might be typical criteria for retention:

·         How does this person fit into our future plan?

·         What does this person bring to work every day that makes our company better?

·         Does this person have a positive impact on customers and fellow team members?

·         Is this person doing just enough to get by or excelling?

·         What impact will it have on the company if we let this person go?

·         It’s either me or him/her!

The same criteria that is used to retain people is the same basic criteria used in the hiring process.  If you were downsized you went through an extensive interview process by your company and the end result was you were not selected to stay on board. 

Self evaluation is a tough road to travel down.  You need to evaluate yourself in the same you were evaluated in the downsizing process.  This will enable to take the right steps, and needed corrective actions, to position you as the top candidate.  It’s not about your age it’s about you!

Jim Barnes

Yesterday I saw a wonderful movie called the Blind Side.  The movie starts with a clip of Joe Thieseman’s career ending injury delivered by Lawrence Taylor.  Later in the movie Leigh Ann tells Michael that it his responsibility to protect the Quarterback like he was a family member, Michael has an epiphany and begins to block flawlessly. 

After watching the movie it hit me that many of us are extremely vulnerable during a career transition.  We literally have the potential to be totally blindsided in the transition process.  Poor interviews, bad resumes and the wrong advice can lead to an extremely complicated and protracted job search.  Some common mistakes I have observed are:

·         Poor preparation.

·         Lack of networking.

·         Lack of confidence.

·         Willing to settle for second best.

·         No clear goals.

·         Fear of change.

·         Unwillingness to adapt.

·         Too much time on the internet.

In all fairness you’re not supposed to be good at getting a new job, you’re supposed to be good at your chosen profession.  Interviewing and job searching is much harder than doing what you do for a living and when you get a new job you won’t have to worry about getting another job for quite a while.  With that said there is no excuse to let yourself be blindsided.  Here are some suggestions to help eliminate your blindside:

·         Be prepared to accept positive criticism.

·         Don’t withdraw, stay connected with people.

·         Look for ways to be innovative.

·         Remember companies are not going to hire you because you need a job, you are going to hired because they need the talent and skills you offer.  It’s about their needs not yours!

·         Focus on your strengths but don’t ignore your weaknesses.  Remember people only know what you tell them.

·         Talk the talk of the company/industry you’re seeking and make sure it is current.

·         Speak in terms of today and the future.  When you reference past accomplishments try to frame it in a way that would be a benefit to the company today if you are hired.

·         This is a highly competitive environment, you have to win.

Make it happen the way you want it to happen!

Jim Barnes

 

Is your resume about you or is it about what you offer in regard to the position you are seeking?

Does your resume speak about the past or does it speak about the future?

What does your resume say about you if you only have 20 seconds to read it?

Based on your resume why would a company want to interview you?

If 30 other people, with equal qualifications, applied for the same position, based on your resume, why would you be selected to be interviewed?

Do you have a clear idea what the ideal candidate would be for the company you are applying?

Many companies let go highly qualified and experienced people, why do you suppose these people are not being called back now the economy is turning around?

Jim Barnes

There is no time to wait! The moment is now and the greatest opportunity is not in the “what is” it is in the “what could be.”  The world of opportunity is no longer about change.  Change focuses on improving upon what already exists and staying on the same course with improvements. 

Einstein defined insanity as attempting to do the same thing that failed over and over and expecting different results.

·         Sending your resume out to everyone and everywhere and waiting for the phone to ring.

·         Searching the internet for hour upon hour every day.

·         Not making an effort to meet new people.

Establish a positive frame of mind:

·         Move past your comfort zone.

·         Establish positive partnerships.

·         Work with a team.

·         Reassess your skills and talents in the future tense.

·         Look past obstacles.

·         Progressive self agenda to move forward.

·         Positive self talk.

·         Decide where you want to be, don’t settle for letting others decide.

Engagement:
      ·         Schedule appointments.

·         Identify yourself  - “Hi this is Jim Barnes”

·         Identify job title – “I’m in Industrial Sales in the waste industry.”

·         Positioning statement – “I’m interested in career opportunities with your company and I’m calling to see if it would be possible to schedule a meeting with you to discuss opportunities?”

·         Propose at date & time - “How does Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. work for you?”

·         Confirm and hang-up.

Taking a job to pay the bills in career transtion does no mean you got the job you wanted.  Don't lose site of your goals.  Fulfilling a need is not the same as getting what you want.