| BIG CAREER MISTAKES
Failure to keep your resume current
Some people think that it’s disloyal to keep a Resume current
when they are working for an employer. It’s not and it will
hinder your career. A current resume allows you to continually check
to see if you are on the track you want to be on, clarify and define
carrier goals, and be prepared for performance reviews and potential
promotions. By doing this you will know when and if it is time to
move on. The only way to manage your career effectively is keep
a pulse on what is and is not happening and when it’s not,
do something constructive about it.
Kenneth Razak recommends that you also keep a Lifetime Learning
Transcript that identifies all projects, seminars, workshops, conferences,
volunteer work that will show your body of knowledge and allow you
to fine tune resumes to particular needs. Don’t overwhelm
a time-challenged manger with all this but be ready to pick and
choose those things most likely to help you cause. Over explaining
capabilities and unrelated information can mark you as a high-maintenance
individual or as someone that will never see the big picture. Don’t
let your pride or fears shoot yourself in the foot.
How is it that the fit and career tract changes over time? Many
new startup operations or positions will challenge you beyond your
capabilities but as the position or company matures you may grow
beyond them particularly if there is not room for advancement. By
keeping a current resume and a Lifetime Learning Transcript you
will know if you are on track or not. If you have made attempts
to get your career on track and it’s not happening, for whatever
reason, it’s time to consider a move.
Accepting a counter offer
IT’S A BIG TEMPTATION!! The number one mistake we see being
made by people negotiating a career move is accepting a counter
offer from their present employer. You really need to ask yourself
some questions about this topic.
Is my move a logical extension of keeping a current resume and
managing my career?
If the answer is no, you lose.
If yes, then you have made it a habit to keep your resume current
and assess your career track on a regular basis and you have probably
identified several factors that have prompted the decision to make
a career move. Most likely you have tried to work with your current
employer, during the past few years, to get your responsibilities
and authority to mesh with your goals while supporting the company
goals. Having been unable to gain satisfactory results, you started
looking for an opportunity to satisfy those desires. Now that you
have found an opportunity and interviewed with the company you know
if this will or will not make a difference in your career. If it
will make a difference in their career then most people will accept
a job offer and then tell their current employer. Hoping for a clean
break, many employees are surprised and caught off guard by a sudden
interest of the soon-to-be-former-employer in making things better.
Why, suddenly, are you so valuable to your employer after all this
time?
Let’s face it, it’s a lot of trouble to go and find
a replacement on short notice. Best solution; entice you to stay
longer while they look for your replacement. Yes you may get more
money but was that the real problem all a long? Have things really
changed? And now that your current employer knows you are a flight
risk, things may well never be the same again.
What story did they give you for not do something sooner?
You will be told that it’s confidential and was already in
the works but don’t kid yourself. This has nothing to do with
you and everything to do with the employer and his/hers needs. If
you have done everything you could to get promoted, to earn more,
or make a difference you would have/should have already been rewarded.
If you have been in your position for four years and there have
been no significantly major changes to your responsibilities or
authority it’s time to move on. Complacency will kill your
employer and your career! Don’t do it to them or yourself!
Is there any correlation between this action and your announcement
to leave?
Of course there is a correlation here! Who will benefit the most
by your remaining stuck at this point in your career? Let’s
face it, may times, we may find it easier to acquiesce our responsibility
for our career into the hands of our employer. As the CEO of your
career you cannot do that. Regardless of what happens, you will
never be able to blame your employer for your failure.
Unprepared References
Don’t let unprepared references knock you out of the running!
Having made the decision to move into another position, passed through
the interviews, and come out as one of the top candidates; your
references now become critical. What sort of references do you need
to have?
| • |
Your references need to have experience in working
with you as a peer, boss, or as a subordinate
that has been promoted. Find them before you need them! |
| • |
You need to personally verify that they will give you a good
reference. |
| • |
All the contact information, position titles, and their availability
to give a reference need to be verified in advance. |
| • |
Your references should know in advance that they may be called
and that it is important that they return that call as soon
as possible. |
| • |
Your references should have the most current copy of your
resume and be prepared to answer questions. |
Here are some typical questions a reference should be ready to
answer.
Frequency and nature of interaction?
Overall responsibilities and performance of the candidate on the
job?
Can you recall if the candidate was able to make a significant impact
on the organizations’ ability to generate income or reduce
cost?
Was the candidate able to make the workflow in the organization
or function more efficient?
Was the candidate able to anticipate needs and prepare for them?
How would you rate the communications and interaction skills of
the candidate with higher-level management?
Do you have any recollection of the candidates’ orientation
to detail?
Other Major Accomplishments?
Programs or Processes
Cost savings
Production increases
Overall Effectiveness:
Meeting deadlines
Reaction to Change
Follow Through
Team Player
Respect & Cooperation
Key People Skills:
Examples of creativity:
Additional technical abilities:
Leadership and Management Style:
Communications:
Overall Best Qualities:
Could Improve at:
Character & Personality:
Reason for leaving:
Recommendation:
Additional comments:
Not knowing your motives and reasons
Never go to an interview without really knowing your motives and
reasons for why you would work for that company and knowing what
you can do for them! If you have spent less than 5 hours (the higher
the position the more hours needed) preparing for an interview you
are unprepared and may not come out as a front-runner despite your
history. Employers don’t buy bull; they buy value! |
