When to stay, when to leave

Over 2 million people voluntarily leave their jobs in the United States each month. Do you want to be one of those people who takes a chance and seeks a new job for any of the following reasons?

• Better pay or benefits for the same job
• Increased options for advancement at a growing company
• Cutting back or increasing hours due to life changes (new baby, kids graduated, divorce)
• Current company is struggling - headcount, raises, bonuses, etc.
• Escaping a toxic work environment - bad manager, co-workers, general drudgery in the office

Let's talk about the last two bullet points, because this is really when a judgement call needs to be made. Do you leave a job that may be paying the bills, to take a chance on another company that could be worse? What if you leave your job and end up someplace worse?

A friend of mine went through this experience recently. Let's call him Chris. His company was downsizing his department, and he made it through the first round of lay-offs. Management assured him that  further cuts were unnecessary, but my friend couldn't shake the feeling that more bad things were in store. At this point I should add that Chris was married, had a 2 year old child, and his wife didn't work outside the home. His family was completely dependent upon his income. Needless to say, he was losing sleep over this decision. If he plays it safe and remains with his company, he could end up in the unlucky position where he is forced to find a new job without a job (remember, it's always easier to find a job when you have one; this avoids any unfortunate stigma with hiring managers). But if he "jumped ship" he could end up someplace else worse.

When we met, the first thing we did was agree on his goals. Without a clear goal in mind, career management and advancement is very difficult. Each one of us must determine what we need versus what we want. For example, if your goal is to retire young, you might pursue different jobs and industries than someone who wants work/life balance and a secure job. In order to determine goals, think about your priorities to help get you started. What is important to you? Rank these items in order from most to least important. 

Once we determined his goals (which in his case were a secure position, high salary, close to home) we were able to cull the list of potential companies he should target in his search. When he compares jobs from companies that meet his requirements against his current job, the decision to leave starts to get a little easier. In general, we can reduce anxiety about career changes when we begin comparing apples to apples instead of the abstract "some job could be better/worse."

One key thing to keep in mind during job searching is that we need to keep our heads clear and minimize extra anxiety. When we're anxious we're not going to think as clearly and this will impact our ability to perform in interviews, networking functions, and our current jobs. Always try to sketch out how something looks in reality versus what might be your biggest fear or greatest hope. Staying in either of those two extremes for too long is not going to lead you to your next successful career change.

Are you considering a career change? What is holding you back from starting this process today?

Finding your people: Company culture and values

In a previous post we talked about the importance of cultural fit. Now we assume that you know where you fit in, and you need to find where these people work and how you can meet them. After all, building genuine relationships with people is the key to generating a network that you can leverage throughout your career to find those "unlisted" jobs. How do you find people that match the company culture you are targeting, and how do you find out where they work? Or alternatively, how do you find specific people that you could learn from, and find out what they do?

Let's say that you are targeting a specific company XYZ. You should start your research from the company website, which usually shows some gems like a mission statement, culture, benefits offered, etc. If a company does not have this information readily available, you might want to ask yourself - why not? This could broadcast confused company leadership and an undefined business strategy. This may or may not be a cultural fit for you - some people like to work in a place where things are constantly changing, but some people prefer more of a structured environment. Don't confuse "agile" with "chaotic" - there is a method to remaining flexible in operation to achieve a set goal that everyone understands.

Companies that showcase their employee benefits are telling you that they value their employees and are willing to invest to keep them. Look for things like matching 401k funds, ample vacation, and tuition benefits. These are signs that the company is invested in employee growth over the long term, but this may not interest you if you just want to work for a couple years and then move on.

Next look for the page that shows the company leaders and founders. There should be some information about these people, which should provide some basic information about them and their backgrounds. Would you consider working at any of these other companies? It's likely that these people adopted some of the company cultures from previous workplaces, and some part of those company cultures may be present in their current company.

Now you'll want to move beyond the canned responses on the company website to really see what these people are like. Look them up in Linked In, Facebook, and general Google searches. You'll learn a lot about their careers from the news articles, charitable organizations, photo opportunities, and awards that appear from a simple search. Through Linked In, you can often find the names of their connections, and you should look them up too. What are their hobbies and interests? Are those things that you enjoy or would enjoy? Are they on the boards of other companies or non-profits? Do the values of those groups align with your values?

Let's assume that you find several employees at Company XYZ who enjoy sailing and are active in the Boys and Girls club in your county. How do you feel about sailing or mentoring young people? Either of these activities can be joined for varying amounts of time and money. You don't need to join a Yacht Club to get experience sailing - what about finding some lessons from a local community college? Or what about volunteering a few hours a week at the Boys and Girls club? When do you either of these activities, you'll want to ask yourself:

• Do I enjoy spending time with people who do these activities? 
• Could I work with these people? Why or why not?

Most non-profits have fund-raisers each year, and they are in desperate need of reliable volunteers (stressing the reliable). Getting involved in a non-profit where a sizable amount of employees from Company XYZ spend their time and money is a great way to get to know them in a low pressure environment. Once again, ask yourself those questions above - at this point you might be actively working with these people a few hours a week. What do you think about working with these people 40+ hours a week?

As you spend time with these people, you should also be able answer questions such as:

• Where else do they spend their time?
• What is their day job like? Do they like it? 
• What motivates them to work?

By this point, you should have enough of a connection with these people to add them to your Linked In profile. We'll talk another time about where to go from there.

Networking: Building a network

People like to live and work with people like them. This seems obvious on the surface, but many people neglect to consider how this axiom should influence their job search.

I call this the PLU phenomenon, where PLU is short for "People Like Us". While we can debate the potential merits and pitfalls of this aspect of human behavior, such a discussion is beyond the scope of this blog. We're here today to talk about how to take benefit from this system, and what it can mean for your career.  After all, only 20-30% of jobs are published in any medium - online job boards, Linked In, newspapers, company websites, etc.  How can you use knowledge of PLU to find the majority of positions? Fit with the culture.

Every company has a culture, and good HR departments understand that hiring for "cultural fit" is key to reducing employee turnover and getting the highest performance out of team members. Hiring people who "fit" into a company will also pay ongoing dividends through high quality referrals that will fill new positions without having to hire outside recruiting firms or build up a large in-house recruiting team. For you this means that if you "fit" in, the company is more likely to hire you than someone else who may not fit in as well.

Let's look at some examples:

• Company A has an individualistic culture because the executives believe that "iron sharpens iron" and they review employees individually on a fixed bell curve distribution each year to determine who gets promoted and who gets fired.
• Company B has a team oriented culture because the executives believe that "the whole is more than the sum of the parts" and they review employees each year to determine who has made the greatest contribution to making others great. Non team players are shown the door.

Which company sounds the most interesting to you? There is no right answer here, only what is the best option for you and your personality. I used polar opposites here to make the point that cultural fit can and should affect how you select companies to pursue in your job search. Websites like glassdoor.com provide company reviews that can help you find a company culture that fits you.

Some questions to consider:

1. How do people dress at this company? 
2. What do they do for fun, outside of work? Do they play video games or go sailing?
3. Are they prone to working on weekends? 
4. Do people often work from home, or are they usually in the office?
5. Do they head to a dive bar after work for drink specials or are they more family oriented?

If you do not match the company culture, I do not suggest pretending that you fit in. You will probably tire of the subterfuge at some point, and they will decide that you are a "bad hire"  and either limit your advancement or "manage you out" of the organization.

If you believe that a particular company culture matches your interests and personality, then the next step is to find and connect with the people who work at this company. We'll talk about that in the next post, but in the meantime, remember that companies interview for skills and experience, but they hire and promote for cultural fit.

What networking really means (Part One)

The buzz word in job searching is simply "networking". I often hear the following phrases, expressed by frustrated and bewildered job searchers:

• Everyone tells me that the key to finding a great position is networking. What does that mean?
• Am I supposed to pay $15-$25 to attend these networking events promoted by different organizations?
• Should I contact everyone in my Linked In and Facebook account to ask about jobs? 
• I thought you were never supposed to ask for a job?
• I don't know anyone who can help me. I am stuck!

Today we'll just cover the first bullet point. Before we start, let's explain what networking actually is, and what actually works. We need to adopt the appropriate mindset before we talk about specific techniques.

"Networking" is leveraging the potential of your connections in a mutually beneficial manner. Please note the inclusion of the words "mutually beneficial" because this means that you should be working with your contacts to help each other achieve your goals. If one person is doing all the giving, this will lead to resentment and you can develop a reputation as a "moocher" - and you will quickly see people become less willing to help you. In fact, your connections may passively discourage your endeavors if they feel that they are being "used". If you leave a negative impression on members in your network, how will they respond when a potential employer inquires about possible candidates to fill a new role?

Let's explore how this works. I was talking to a friend the other day, who happens to be a C-level executive at a publicly traded company. I asked him how he found his jobs throughout his successful career, and he thought for a minute before responding that "all the positions I have found were offered to me by someone who knew me." That sounds great! How did he build a network of people who regularly offered him positions with increasingly higher responsibilities and salaries?

Relationships. You must develop and maintain relationships. Of course, this goes back to the "mutually beneficial" descriptor I used above. In the course of his career he sought out opportunities to meet and develop relationships with people - co-workers, hiring managers, subordinates, recruiters, and experts in his field. These relationships would not survive if he was always saying things like "Hi Joe, do you have any leads for me?" or "Can you send my resume to Harry in accounting? I saw a posting on your company site that looks great!" Relationships are a two way street, so remember that your contact probably wants his or her career to progress too - try asking "How can I help?" and then help them solve their problems.


After your contacts tell you what they need, and write it down. Refer back to your list periodically to mentally check if you have seen or heard anything that might be helpful to a member of your network.

Seriously. Write it down and review it. You cannot expect your contacts to remember your needs and act on your behalf if you're not willing to do the same for them. Writing down their help request in front of them has the added benefit of showing that you're serious about helping them, and that you are not simply paying lip service to their needs. Building a strong network of people who will help you find those hidden opportunities will take some time and effort, but the payoffs throughout your career will be tremendous.

Pursusing passions or paying the bills in a career?

Scott Adams (creator of the successful Dilbert comic strip) posted an interesting article on the secret of his success on the Wall Street Journal. He downplays pursuing your passions in favor of just trying something and always being on the lookout for something better. Obviously this approach appears to work for Scott, who has achieved his definition of career and financial success, because he's worth somewhere around $75 million as of this posting and loves what he does. Does this mean that passion is irrelevant in your job search and career progression?

I often meet with people who tell me that their day job is miserable, and they would rather pursue their passions - but they are blocked by one or more of the following:

• financial obligations: mortgages, college loans, retirement planning, credit card debt
• lifestyle choices: car payments, parental or spousal expectations, cost of living concerns
• personal reasons: too old/young, lacking education or experience

These are all valid considerations before making a major career change, but they shouldn't permanently derail your dreams and aspirations. If you are passionate about something, whether it's a cause, activity, or invention, then you're going to think of ways around those challenges. Pursuing something that you care about and that you feel is a good fit will also help you get back up after life knocks you down.

If you are working a job or industry that makes you miserable, how likely are you to keep getting back up after a setback? Can you imagine how someone who loves his or her job will react differently to a setback than someone who is just collecting a paycheck?

In addition, each of has a limited amount of time in this life to work and make a living. Using your passions and interests as a way to filter out the noise and target opportunities to pursue can give you a degree of control and mission that is otherwise lacking in your job search. Knowing what you care about and believe in will help you decide which opportunities to pursue and which ones to avoid.

This bring us back to whether you should pursue your passions or a paycheck as your top priority. From my experience, this is a false choice, and you should look for ways to achieve both. You will be more fulfilled and successful if you love what you do and it can support your lifestyle. Start exploring what really motivates you and use this as a starting point for your next career move.

Gaining control over your career

A lot has been said about how "the good old days" of working for only one company from mail room to corner suite, are long gone. I agree that it's highly unlikely that you will work for one company throughout your career, as the US Bureau of Labor Statistics indicates here. The question is how do we gain control over our careers if we can't count on regular promotions within the same company? I often see people pursuing expensive advanced college degrees without a plan to use them, attending college and not graduating, or sitting around fearful that they will be laid-off.

A better approach is to acknowledge the reality that you're facing, and then come up with a plan to address it or at least mitigate the problem as best you can. Start with an objective look at yourself, including your strengths and weaknesses. There are assessments you can take, some for a fee, that will help cut through the noise and point you in the right direction. Another option is to talk with someone older and more experienced than you. The key is to find objective feedback about your interests and skills. Do you have the necessary skills and drive to succeed where you are?

When you know areas to develop, establish some goals for yourself, write them down, and share them with someone close to you - perhaps a good friend or significant other. Perhaps your goal is to learn a new technology or find a new mentor. You want people around you who will question you and drive accountability. It's easy to daydream about where you want to be and what you want to do, but if someone else knows about your dreams and aspirations, then you're going to feel more "on the hook" to get moving.

Secondarily, this gives someone else the chance to verify that your goals make sense. If you're terrible at algebra and your goal requires a lot of higher mathematics, then you need someone close who can speak some truth to you BEFORE you start down that path. Someone who knows you well can also point out potential pitfalls and maybe help you break the problem into smaller pieces. Many people get stuck staring up at a mountain of tasks before they can break off a manageable chunk and get started.

Next, setup a calendar with weekly goals. This step is very important, partially to drive accountability, but primarily to setup a record that you can look back on and realize that you're making progress. If you don't see regular progress, then you're going to become demotivated and remain stuck in a rut.

Ask yourself these questions today:

1. What are your skills and interests? Are you using your skills and pursuing your interests today? If not, why is that?
2. What are some reasonable goals you can set for yourself to use your skills, or to enhance your skills? What are you missing and what would you like to see in yourself in 5 years?
3. Who can act as a soundboard and motivator for you? Who cares about your success and happiness? Discuss your goals with this person.
4. What can you do this week to move towards accomplishing yours goals? Break this task into smaller pieces until you know you can finish something this week.

Try it out for a few weeks and make sure to check your progress. If you're not progressing, break your tasks into smaller chunks, check your assumptions with that close friend, and proceed.

Help for the Long Term Unemployed

The term "long term unemployed" gets tossed around so much that we should start with a working definition of this group. For all practical purposes, these are people who:

1. were previously working, 
2. lost their job due to a variety of factors, and 
3. have been without work for at least 6 months. 

These people, all 4.7 million of them at last count, are struggling to find a toehold back in the workforce, but their challenges are different from other people who have not worked in a long time:

• Students graduating from college after 4 or 5 years,
• People (predominantly women) returning to the workforce after taking time off to raise children or care for someone else,
• Military personnel who have recently been discharged and have not held a civilian position in several years.

Each of those above groups will find their own challenges in locating a suitable position, but the long-term unemployed also have to content with the stigma of being unemployed. It's easier to explain that you were in college, raising kids, or serving your country, but what do you say about your time if you have been unemployed for over a year?

We know that you should never lie on a resume, so how do you contend with possible employer concerns about your skills or productivity?

Keep your skills sharp

Get involved! Can you volunteer your services at a local charity or non-profit? If so, you'll also increase your network and maybe hear about some new opportunities that don't make it onto the online job boards.

Consider taking some classes or embarking on a self study course. There are tons of free classes out there now for self-motivated people who want to increase or maintain their skills and knowledge.

Consider a change
 Don't get stuck in a resume rut. Consider changing your resume from chronological to functional, so that you can highlight your skills and accomplishments instead of gaps or the last job you have 7 months ago.

That work you did for the non-profit? That now goes onto your resume. The skills you picked up taking online classes? Those can be used to freshen your Linked In profile and bolster your resume.

Maintain structure

Have you noticed that it's hard to get much done without work commitments to keep you motivated? Guess what, as an unemployed person, your full time job is looking for a job. Keep that frame of mind and we'll talk about how that looks in another post. To get you started, consider setting aside some time each day for learning. Employers want to know that you can learn quickly if they hire you, so keep exercising that brain "muscle."

That should get you started. For those of you in this situation, what have you seen that worked or didn't work for you?