Another Point of View

Out with the Old

Old word – Loyalty.  New word   - Commitment

If you’re 45 or older, the word Loyalty will still have a nice ring to it.  Unfortunately, it no longer rings well in the corporate world.  Finding a good job where you can put your stake in the ground and retire in 20 years is just a vague memory in business journals.  Today’s word is Contribution.

Some businesses will give a few professionals the opportunity to stay for 10 or more years.  Finding them will be a cross between finding the proverbial needle in a haystack and lady luck.  Certainly privately owned companies offer the greatest opportunity for long-term employment.  No stock options, maybe a 401k.  However, you can invest in publicly traded companies, start your own investment portfolio and have the best of both worlds, private and public.

No company, though, is safe from merger/acquisition/IPO/privatization.  The fun starts when you understand the game and make your plays so you capitalize, financially as well as professionally, no matter which road the company chooses to take. 

If the company you’re working for begins to grow rapidly or needs financing to support the growth -- be on the lookout for them to go public.  Once they go public, everything changes.  Henceforth, employment should be measured in 3 month increments.  Always, always stay current on what is being said about your company - - on Wall Street, in business journals and the corporate website.  If you know the company is struggling each quarter to make the predicted profitability, have your resume ready to go and begin to look for your next position.  If the company appears to be attracting buyers, certainly have your resume ready, but watch carefully as the scenarios unfold.  If your position is a key component of the company’s success you may be offered a position in the merged/acquired company.  If not, your position will be eliminated due to restructuring and you will be looking for the next career opportunity.

Bottom line?  Stay alert, watch for the signs and be ready to move. 

Top of Mind Awareness (TOMA)

Top of Mind Awareness is the “branding goal” for many companies. McDonald’s Golden Arches (kids can spot them 15 miles away!!); OU, OSU and UT (Sooners, Cowboys and Longhorns). The same psychology that works when you find yourself drawn to a particular brand, eating establishment or car dealership, also applies when it comes to your career.

It is so much easier to send an email, oftentimes your resume’, check with them to be sure they got it - - then file it away in your completed file and not set up a routine to stay in touch. With all the computer tickler helps today, there no excuse for failing to stay in touch with all of your contacts in an appropriate manner. The key word in the previous sentence is “appropriate”. That word has 101 different meanings. It depends on who you ask. It is better to err on the side of too often, than to let a contact die because you forgot them.  As an Executive Advisor for the past 20 years, I have seen careers catapulted when the job seeker understood how to establish TOMA (Top of Mind Awareness).  And I’ve seen careers wither and die because the job seeker made one contact, then sat back and waited, and waited and waited.

I call this method WTP (watering the plant). That is a bit trickier. Some contacts are like cactus - - you only water (contact) them occasionally; others are like potted plants in an

Oklahoma

August (you need to water them often - - and constantly).

But each and every person in your contact file should have some kind of email correspondence and/or phone message from you on a regular basis. The key word here is regular as it pertains to that contact.

Recently I had a client land the job of his dreams because he used the WTP effectively. If the company appeared in trade journals or on-line in the news, BP would send his contact a brief note of recognition. He occasionally called his contact to just check in and was always prepared to leave a voice mail if necessary. A few months after his initial contact and interview with them, they had a sudden opening that exactly fit BP’s talents and experience. Guess who got the phone call to be interviewed and, more importantly, was the only one they considered? Yup - - BP. He landed the job, the perks are great and he was in a position to negotiate a great package for relocation and job insurance should the company sell or his position be eliminated. Worth the time and effort involved in WTP. Absolutely.

So, take a long, hard look at all the contacts you’ve made. Set up an appropriate schedule to stay in touch and the Get ‘er done!!!

Opt Out....Opt In

Much has been said about women who “opt out” to have children.  Let’s look at it another way.  For most of them, they do not opt out completely, rather they take the crooked path approach to their career.  They simply stop off at a few scenic places to make that once-in-a-lifetime investment in their children.  When they return to work, they are more dedicated employees and they made the right decision at the right time for their family.

If you are currently in a high stress, demanding job where 70+ hours are the norm and you are contemplating having a baby - - something has to give.  It should be the long hours and a reduction in stress.  In an ideal world, you would be able to have a candid conversation with your boss, they would recognize your value and you would accept a less demanding/stressful job.  When the farsighted company does this, they have a long-term, loyal employee.  If this is not your reality, then look at viable options.  They can include working from home; working flex-time for a new company; dramatically changing careers to accommodate your family decision. 

With each of these, getting good career advice can be vital for a long-range plan.  For 20+ years I have listened to, advised and counseled, professionals who are at a cross-roads in their careers.  As an executive advisor for Oklahoma Professional Search, I know the importance of  a systematic appraisal of your strengths as well as a marketing plan for a successful move to a new job that is rewarding.  As in life, there is no one right answer.  The more information you have before you make a decision, the better the odds that you’ll make a good decision.  If you are faced with the cold, hard facts of a stressful job with long hours, take the time and make an investment in your future with good career advice.  Then you do not have to opt-out, you can just take the scenic route.