Starting the Year Off Right After Corporate Changing of the Guards

While many resolutions at the start of the new year are about "new you" or "new career", there are many people who will need to re-energize after a prior year of tumultuous changes due to massive layoffs, mergers, and acquisitions. Uncertainty about a current job, the role to be played in the future and the potential of no career path at a company can be mentally tiring.

Here are a few steps to re-energize yourself at the top of the New Year to determine your next move:

1. Assess the new regime.  

Fight through the rumors and media headlines and do the due diligence on what really happened for the change to occur. In the case of a merger, how much of each company's standards and ways of doing business are included in the new company? How quickly can you adjust or make a difference? In the case of an acquisition, how important was your position or did it even exist in the parent company's structure and what would be its value?


What are the policies for working - onsite everyday, telecommuting, travel or longer commuting times than previously? Can you work with the new leadership and middle managers? As described in Seven Transformations of Leadership by David Rooke and Wiliam R. Torbert, are they opportunists, diplomats, experts, achievers, individualists, strategist, or alchemists and how does that blend with your values?

2. Honestly, evaluate your strengths and weaknesses.  

This requires introspection and possibly some peer assessments regarding what is required in your position as well as character and work ethic attributes. Identifying the strengths should help to align with departments in the company that are weak in these areas. Similarly acquiescing the weaknesses means there should be a plan on how to improve them or find another position where those skills are not as prevalent to the role. For help in this area, start out with reading StrengthsFinder 2.0 by Tom Rath.

3. Build a new network.  

If the old network loses power or are sent packing, there are still bills to pay. However, this does not mean switch support or allegiance to those who have always supported your career. While you are planning your next move, it does mean finding a way to show your worth by asking to be invited to meetings, setting up one-on-ones to discuss your strengths, being attentive to the new direction to discover a way to implement those skills and watching the newly formed relationships. It also means doing informational interviews outside of the department, and more importantly, outside the company, to find a new niche with more potential and staying power.

4. Rebuild your brand.  

Create an online video elevator pitch of 3 sentences that describe your key assets to any organization. Take certification courses in an area that can help increase the chances of broader employment outside of the industry. Set up or modify LinkedIn accounts to better describe what you do in recognizable terms of others in the same position both in and out of the industry. Set up quiet time to read and refocus on passions that you always wanted to explore and research how your skills can be incorporated to make that dream come true. Build and create a social media brand based on your expertise and network with those of similar interests.

Published on January 4, 2015

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Posted in: acquisitions,career change,career makeover,employment,employment stress,future career,layoffs,leadership,making a career change,mergers,New Career

Building a Future While Balancing the Present

Entering into another year always causes some career versus potential introspection. It is the normal time of the year to reflect on what has been done in the past years, the progress or regression along the career path and the reality of a future as it relates to the existing employer or client or the potential to do more and be better. The good news is that you possess the ability to direct where your career will begin or end if you properly balance the existing survival in the workplace with the tasks required to build a future elsewhere.

Delegate The Now.  

Most of what is done in an existing job is routine and can be done on auto-pilot. Delegate the small tasks to free up time to focus on the next career move. Send others to meetings for you and have them distribute meeting minutes. Catch up later and be persistent about pursuing the next career choice.

Set aside time  

In order to get to a destination, time must be allotted for the travel. Identify 2 - 3 hours/day to research, study, intern, highlight strengths and weaknesses as it applies to the future job, or conduct informational interviews with individuals in the desired industry. Block out personal appointments on your work calendar for lunch or multiple breaks in the day to take a walk or sit in the car and plan what is necessary to do to reach your potential.

Limit the distractions 

Successful people work towards the goal without a lot of noise from others in the background. Tell only the people who can help you make the change. There is no need to tell everyone including family and friends your aspirations if they are not in the position to help you get there. If validation is desired, there is a bigger problem that a new career can't fix.

Train Yourself to Need Less Sleep 

It's great that 8-10 hours of sleep is the recommended sleep duration. However, time cannot be turned back to give a second chance to complete tasks not done due to procrastination. Learn to take an hour less of sleep time, if necessary, to do an internship, be mentored or work on the attributes that are required for the next position.

Published on December 11, 2015

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,future career,moonlighting,New Career,Time management,transitioning

Best Read Friday - Be An Entrepreneur of Your Career

BE THE EXECUTIVE OF YOUR CAREER...

Finally there is another article that puts into perspective the importance of understanding the effects of taking charge of your career as previously highlighted in this video.  As we say at The RLC Group, be an executive of your own destiny!  

Check out this article by Michael Moroney and read the real-life examples of people who want to do more and plan to do greater in their career paths by acting like an entrepreneur.


Be sure to check the posts and videos by Temeko Richardson for more detailed information about doing business, leadership, entrepreneurship, and smart professionalism tips.
Blog:  blog.therlcgroup.com
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/user/TemekoRichardson
Twitter: @temekoruns

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,climb corporate ladder,New Career,Temeko Richardson

Not In My Job Description

OPPORTUNITY AWAITS...

Once upon a time people were happy to be gainfully employed.   The gratefulness must have dissipated in anticipation of a flourishing economy or an up-and-coming arrogant workforce.  Too often, the complaint “it’s not in my job description” surfaces because people are asked to do more than what was originally expected.  But whose loss is it if more is not done?

Honestly it is the employee who loses more because more experience is not gained that could possibly set them up for a promotion, raise, or a new job outside of the current company.  It may open new opportunities for different job titles and responsibilities that can be more interesting or inspire to create a business or modify time commitments to obtain an enjoyable hobby.  Additionally new responsibilities normally require meeting new people who may be in more power to create even greater opportunities.

Only the mediocre remain with mundane tasks and are complacent with no change.  Know who you are and what you expect out of life.  But what is put in will result in what is returned.   A little effort goes a long way and can upgrade not just self-esteem but a lifestyle and livelihood.  In the words of Nike, JUST DO IT!

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,Employees,employment,Get A Clue,job description,Just Do it,New Career,New Job,Nike,permanent employees,Temeko Richardson,Why Not you?

Starting the New Career on the Right Foot

BE THE HERO NOT THE ENEMY...

There are two categories of individuals entering into a new career – those who have experienced opportunity, persistence, and preparation come together and those who have no experience but knew someone who opened the door.  

No matter how you got there, here’s what you do to stay there.

1. Know your job.  Unless you have come in as an assistant or a glorified secretary or you are working in a startup, obtain a clear list of responsibilities from management identifying what is expected.  There should be documentation that delineates each role/responsibility to ensure unnecessary friction is not created with individuals who may be performing the same tasks.
2. Stay under the radar.  Most companies do not have a training manual on exactly how your job should be done unless it is a low-level position.  Nor do managers want individuals who are not self-starters and have no drive to figure things out without spoon feeding.  Learn what others on the team are doing by asking the right questions and not creating waves.  Allow people to offer you information or documentation instead of continuously asking or demanding.
3. Make more allies than alligators.  Be humble enough to know how to work with everyone, regardless of how much you know or who you know.  In order to survive anywhere you must be able to relate to management and non-management.  The perception that there is some entitlement will only alienate others and have them shy away from helping you.
4. Keep personal connections private.  Do not openly discuss your personal relationships with others working in the new place of employment.  Keep that to yourself and don’t acknowledge it or go out of your way to expose it in office settings.   If there is a relationship with higher level executives, allow them to boast about your skills to others rather than you tooting your own horn.  Again, a sense of entitlement and the perception of being untouchable based on connections hurts rather than helps.
5. Talk the least and work the most.  Your work ethic, teamwork, and results should speak for you.  Individuals should be less concerned about who you are and more excited about your arrival to help them do their jobs better and in less time.  Focus on performing tasks that help others to demonstrate value.

You made it this far, now make it work to your benefit. 

For more clues like these, be sure to check out some helpful videos on the YouTube channel or purchase the book, Get A Clue – 10 Steps to an Executive IQ.

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Posted in: Business Etiquette,career change,career makeover,employment,Get A Clue,networking,New Career,New Employment,Temeko Richardson

Learn and Leave

LEARN AND WALK AWAY...

The best advice I received on my first job out of college at SmithKline Beecham (now Glaxo) was to get the experience, obtain an advanced degree, and gracefully jump ship.  The person’s reasoning was that you are not respected if you obtain credentials while on the job.  The respect, money, and worth come naturally from another employer. And when your current employer "misses the water because the well ran dry", they will hire you back for even more money.

As I have maneuvered the rungs of the corporate ladder and the professional existence, his advice has been valid in almost every case.  It is much like relationships (business and personal).  When you act desperate and they know you need them, there is less respect than when you are more confident and know your worth. 

So how do you learn and leave them alone?

1. Create a personal professional project plan.  You don’t need to be a PMP (overrated most times anyway).  Open up Excel and put together some milestones (e.g. Start MBA or Certification program) with some dates.  Under each milestone, add each task it will require to accomplish them (e.g. Obtain transcripts from schools, find babysitters for kids 2 nights/week, save $500/month extra, etc.).  Place a paper copy of this plan on your wall at home and electronically on your smartphone and tablet.  Be sure to refer back to it daily to make sure you have taken out the time to focus on closing out one of the tasks.
2. Partner with a mentor at work in the newly desired expertise.   If your new occupation or dream job is being done at your company, look in the corporate directory for other people who have the job title or responsibility and contact them to see if they are willing to be your mentor.  Set up times with them during lunch or before/after work hours to go through their daily responsibilities and determine if this is something you really want to do.
3. Sign up for training that increases the chance of entering the new profession/position.  Look up the profession or job title on frequently used job boards like Salary.com, Monster.com, or LinkedIn.  Take note of the job descriptions and look for training and certification that closely mimic the prerequisites. 
4.  Market yourself.  After you’ve completed 1 – 3, update your resume and marketing materials (yes, you are a brand!) to reflect what you have learned, the training, and the mentorship/apprenticeship and send out to companies from #3.  Remember don’t apply for internal jobs and ask for a reference from your mentor.

The bottom line “bad boys/girls move in silence”.  Be creative and plan thoroughly because the sky is the limit once you learn and let go!

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,employment,employment stress,Entrepreneurship,mentor,mentorship,New Career,Temeko Richardson

The Exit Strategy that Allows Reentry

THE RIGHT WAY...

In an August (Knowing How Long is Too Long) blog post, I wrote about knowing the right time to exit a situation to move forward with a new opportunity or start your own business.  Assuming the time has come and you have been rewarded with the opportunity of a lifetime or at least, the immediate happiness, there is a way to leave and keep your reputation intact.  Of course, it keeps the doors open in case you ever want to return. Not that you ever would!

Create an exit work plan.  Develop a list of tasks that includes the name of a person to whom will hand off the completed work or documentation.  Neither divulge what is on the list nor the progress to anyone other than the one who is responsible for approving time worked or signing checks and the person who will be the lucky recipient of the work.

Heads down and positive attitude up.  This is the time to complete all of your work and not linger in conversations that can be misconstrued as being negative.  Just keep busy and do whatever it takes to complete your scheduled work plan and even add a couple of extra bonus items if you can.  Remain positive and reveal no dislikes.

Move out in silence. Excitement can take over and cause you to want to spill the beans about your new venture.  Hold it in!  There is no need to share this information with people you will be leaving.  There will be just as many people happy for you as there are jealous of you for being able to leave.  And truth be told, the latter act like the former.  Sounds bad? Think of it this way.  You don’t want to take the risk they know someone of power where you are going and you are wrongly prejudged before you arrive. Learn to nicely avoid questions.

Protect your reputation. There is a tendency for incompetent people in charge to blame those leaving for the problems. Document everything and carbon copy (cc:) the right individuals to demonstrate you were part of the solution and not the problem in any task that you were assigned.  Keep all of your emails (learn to archive the .pst files in Outlook and save them to a personal external hard drive) in case you have to use them for petty tactics like non-payment, termination clauses, contract rebuttals, and warranties.

Clean out before getting out.  It should never get this far but I do realize people “move in” to where they are working rather than treat it like a temporary stepping stone.  Remove any software installed on the company-issued laptop, clear out the browser history, cookies, and passwords from all the Internet browsers you typically use, copy all your work/documentation to a personal USB external drive (in case someone claims they never received it or saw it), remove any files downloaded from the Internet in the Download folders and in any “MY” subfolders (e.g. pictures, documents, videos, etc.), and empty the Recycle bin.  Remove all personal belongings from the office/desk/cubicle and neatly file all company documentation for the next person.

It’s hard to leave sometimes but you will be glad you did.  Where there is direction, there is protection.  And it works even better when you leave hard work and no hard feelings.  Congrats on saying goodbye to the old and hello to the new!

For more tips, be sure to follow:
Blog:  blog.therlcgroup.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/execgetaclue

Feel free to pick up a copy of the book, Get A Clue - 10 Steps to an Executive IQ

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,consulting,Exit Interviews,exit strategy,Get A Clue,management consulting,New Career,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - 3 Steps to Reinvent Your Career

CHANGE THE MIND AND GRIND..

It is not in everyone's mental makeup to work the same job for 40 years, let alone be in the same career path for 5.  There is a reason we have choices - the one to stay and pretend to be happy, the one to stay and be complacent, and the one to do something about the boredom and pursue our passions.  

Check out this article that explains 3 steps to making the move to reinvent your career.

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,New Career,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - Good Free Help is Hard to Find

HARD TO FIND GOOD HELP...

It is the end of the summer and the plethora of interns from high schools and colleges have dwindled.  From corporate powerhouses to Hollywood executives, interns are cheap, if not free, labor who are eager to impress and make a mark that identifies them as employable once they graduate.  However, there are a few key thoughts an intern will not disclose.  

Read this Yahoo article by MarketWatch's Maria LaMagna to learn what they are hiding.

For more information on how to keep great employees that are about hard work and loyalty, purchase my book, Get A Clue 10 Steps to an Executive IQ.

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,contract work,employment,intern,internship,Maria LaMagna,MarketWatch,Temeko Richardson

Best Read Friday - Contemplate These Career Change Moves

CAREER TRANSITION...

This week the focus was on career change and how to make the transition to the dream job of choice.  Today's article gives the reader four things to consider and related options when evaluating whether or not a career change is viable given responsibilities and available time.

Check out the article and transition wisely with some advice from people who have done it successfully.  http://www.fastcompany.com/3000435/4-things-consider-when-contemplating-major-career-change

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,moonlighting,New Career,New Employment,Temeko Richardson

Career Makeovers Happen for Game Changers

PLAY THE GAME...

Too often students pursue majors in fields of interest that provide economic and networking benefits ultimately giving them the staying power in the industry to climb the corporate ladder.  Similarly employees continue in a role because of intangibles like promotions, salary, bonuses, and vacation. But how do you modify the mundane of employment to increase the respect and value to make a career change?  Become an office game changer.

1). Volunteer for unrelated assignments. The key to being noticed goes beyond the norm of excelling in the current role.  That is to be expected. Find tasks that have nothing to do with your job in another department, deliverables as part of a volunteer program or nonprofit organization. Showcase these newly acquired talents that can most likely be used for a desired career.
2). Find a mentor in the desired field.  Mentors are the quintessential components of success for anyone who wants grow professionally.  Mentors are supportive, loyal, and interested in their "mentees".  Choose a mentor who has a network of comrades with available resources that can offer opportunities for experience.
3). Use time wisely to be productive. Game changers maximize each moment by becoming efficient with time spent interacting with various people.  Determine who can help you, who you can help, and who will distract you. Balance time between the former two and all but eliminate any focus on the latter.
 
Being an employee or working in corporate America does not have to be a dead end.  If you work hard and research the opportunities available that can get you to your dream job, the path is yours to travel as long as you are willing to take the chance and put in the effort for the ultimate win - the career change.

For more business information, be sure to follow on Twitter (@temekoruns) or purchase the book, Get A Clue 10 Steps to an Executive IQ.

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Posted in: career change,career makeover,Employees,Get A Clue,New Career,New Employment,New Job,permanent employees,Temeko Richardson