Frank Lloyd Wright, one of the most notable architects in the last century, once stated "Business is like riding a bicycle. Either you keep moving or you fall down." The same can be said about jobs. If you are stationary - not progressing - you are actually slipping backward as the world passes by you in our fast-paced society.
The secret to maintaining employment even in a tough job market is to be proactive. Too often we cruise on autopilot and accept what a company or job hands us. We are not noticing what's going on around us in our company, industry, or the economy in general - let alone the corner office. How is my performance compared to co-workers? Am I looked upon as a go to person - someone who gets things done? Do I anticipate the needs of customers before they have to ask? Do I seek out new assignments before my manager has to delegate them?
In the macro sense, we have to study industry trends. Are our products/services still going to be viable in 5 years? If you are in an industry or particular position in your company that is losing its relevancy, start now to make a change to a new department, a new company, or even change careers. You've got to always consider how stable will my job be in an economic slump? Don't do anything rash - use you current job to fund your effort to find a new long-term endeavor. But make sure you are still giving your current employer 100 percent of your time and effort. Don't give your boss a reason to hand you walking papers.
It's too easy to accept the status quo until it's too late. Someone makes the decision for you - and that is usually unemployment. Make a change on your terms and timeframe. Start actively networking to see what other career choices exist. What do friends and colleagues say about their jobs and companies? What research are you doing about your company or a prospective employer? There is a great deal of public information available especially on publicly traded companies - both long and short term business risks. Information is power - power you need to ensure job stability.
What other skills do you possess? What would additional schooling do for your career - either an advance degree or additional course work? We must continually be educated on new and changing job requirements or we are slipping behind. Act now if you see red flags in your company or industry. Take the bull by the horns and direct your own career and life!
Richard S. Pearson is the Author of 5 Necessary Skills to Keep Your Career on Track available on Amazon. He has held vice-president positions with four multibillion dollar travel industry companies and three Internet early stage companies. He has a BA degree from Regis University in Organizational Development. His experience has given him a unique perspective on how to navigate the organizational structures of both large and small companies. He has hired and trained hundreds of employees from frontline salespeople to vice presidents, and coached many through their careers. He is currently working on facilitating the large increase of travel between the US and China, which is taking place.http://www.5necessaryskills.com |
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