Today in the USA Weekend there was an article titled “16 Healthy Tips for Feeling Better in 2010” written by Dr. Oz.  The last part of the article is labeled “Be Fearless.”  Oz says “Remember, the goldfish doesn’t know there is a world beyond the bowl until he is lifted out.  Similarly, you can’t appreciate your limitations until you have challenged and moved past them.”

Are you still swimming in the fishbowl that was your last position?  Are ready to jump out of that fishbowl and start swimming in open water?  There is an ocean of opportunity, so steer clear of the shark infested waters and set your course.

We all know that the past two years have been far more than a “challenge.”  There has been a scarcity of open positions.  If you’ve been one of the “lucky” ones to survive in a company that has been in a downward spiral you might not be feeling so lucky.  Companies have been forced to downsize to survive and in most cases the company chooses to keep whom they consider the valuable assets.  This might be typical criteria for retention:

·         How does this person fit into our future plan?

·         What does this person bring to work every day that makes our company better?

·         Does this person have a positive impact on customers and fellow team members?

·         Is this person doing just enough to get by or excelling?

·         What impact will it have on the company if we let this person go?

·         It’s either me or him/her!

The same criteria that is used to retain people is the same basic criteria used in the hiring process.  If you were downsized you went through an extensive interview process by your company and the end result was you were not selected to stay on board. 

Self evaluation is a tough road to travel down.  You need to evaluate yourself in the same you were evaluated in the downsizing process.  This will enable to take the right steps, and needed corrective actions, to position you as the top candidate.  It’s not about your age it’s about you!

Jim Barnes

Yesterday I saw a wonderful movie called the Blind Side.  The movie starts with a clip of Joe Thieseman’s career ending injury delivered by Lawrence Taylor.  Later in the movie Leigh Ann tells Michael that it his responsibility to protect the Quarterback like he was a family member, Michael has an epiphany and begins to block flawlessly. 

After watching the movie it hit me that many of us are extremely vulnerable during a career transition.  We literally have the potential to be totally blindsided in the transition process.  Poor interviews, bad resumes and the wrong advice can lead to an extremely complicated and protracted job search.  Some common mistakes I have observed are:

·         Poor preparation.

·         Lack of networking.

·         Lack of confidence.

·         Willing to settle for second best.

·         No clear goals.

·         Fear of change.

·         Unwillingness to adapt.

·         Too much time on the internet.

In all fairness you’re not supposed to be good at getting a new job, you’re supposed to be good at your chosen profession.  Interviewing and job searching is much harder than doing what you do for a living and when you get a new job you won’t have to worry about getting another job for quite a while.  With that said there is no excuse to let yourself be blindsided.  Here are some suggestions to help eliminate your blindside:

·         Be prepared to accept positive criticism.

·         Don’t withdraw, stay connected with people.

·         Look for ways to be innovative.

·         Remember companies are not going to hire you because you need a job, you are going to hired because they need the talent and skills you offer.  It’s about their needs not yours!

·         Focus on your strengths but don’t ignore your weaknesses.  Remember people only know what you tell them.

·         Talk the talk of the company/industry you’re seeking and make sure it is current.

·         Speak in terms of today and the future.  When you reference past accomplishments try to frame it in a way that would be a benefit to the company today if you are hired.

·         This is a highly competitive environment, you have to win.

Make it happen the way you want it to happen!

Jim Barnes