15 Minute Job Search Tips

This is a video about knowing when it's time to go. I'll simply say that a lot of this . . . I wish I had a turban on and this was a crystal ball . . . Oooooo. I could be looking into the crystal ball . . . Because, I've said many times the person who gets ahead isn't always the smartest or work the hardest (although those are great qualities to have). People get ahead by being alert to opportunity. Sometimes, those are internal to an organization; more often than not, they're external.
Now, one of the ways people do well professionally is by avoiding a professional disaster and being alert to signals. They can read tea leaves. That's what this was all about; you know, looking into the crystal ball or got a cup and use a tea bag, but yeah, you get the idea. So here's a couple of things that can help you recognize when you might be in jeopardy.
The first one is you suddenly report to someone different. If you're a senior professional, the reporting structures change and you're now reporting a rung or two down from where you were reporting. If you're on staff, you're suddenly re-assigned without even the pep talk about this being a great opportunity. Yeah, they really don't care about you. It's time to go.
Maybe, you recognize that you've gone as high as you can within the organization. You see your manager as someone who's around your age and is content with their job. When you ask yourself the question, "Where can I really go from here?" You know, your answer suggests improving your skills, rather than your job function because you're stuck behind this person. Maybe your firm is up for sale or recently sold.
I was talking with someone. Not too long ago, his firm was sold to a European concern. He recognized that what he has been asked to do was transition their computer systems and migrate them into formats that were familiar to the new employer. He understood that, at best, he would be asked to maintain them, but, certainly, there was no need for him once the the conversion was complete.
Another thing that you can do is look around and basically say there's nothing new going on around here. I'm doing the same thing I was three years ago. I'm just maintaining an existing function. Nothing new.
Or maybe you find your boss is a jerk or the industry that you're working in is on its deathbed. These are all clues it's time to move on.
So often, because people are kind of stuck in either the comfort of doing what they're doing or their concerns concerned about, "Can I really find a new position?" They wait until it's too late, and, thus, you know, put themselves in the position of being behind the professional 8-ball in the job search. It takes way longer. Without income, much longer. Because if you take action before they hand you the pink slip, yeah, you've built up some momentum already. . . And then you're out the door. And maybe you're close to another offer already.
So, don't wait until you are invited into that conference room with HR is and your manager and his or her manager and they slide that piece of paper in front of you to sign indicating that you understand that these are the circumstances of you termination.
Read the tea leaves. The proactive. Don't act fearfully because, at the end of the day, your fear is the very thing that's going to cost you dearly