I received a wonderfully inspiring letter from a reader that I want to share with you:

For the past two years, I’d been working for a Fortune 500 company as a demonstration coordinator.  I loved what I did and discovered a true delight in working with customers and organizing in-store events.   However, when a new store manager was promoted, things at that location rapidly went downhill.  After a few months, no matter what I did, I was criticized up one side and down the other. For a company that boasts about their ”appreciation of team members”, praise was few and far between for anyone at that location.    

• Be a role model for your daughters.  Ask yourself if you would want them to be treated the way you’re being treated at work. 
• Know when it’s time to vote with your feet.  If you’ve tried to turn around a difficult situation and it isn’t working, don’t remain a victim.  Your self-esteem and self-confidence will only suffer.
• Advertise yourself.  I love that this woman created a presentation to sell herself into a job that didn’t even exist!  Go the extra mile and potential employers will see how you add value.
• Be open, creative, and take risks.  The writer found her next job by simply talking to people at a shop she frequented.  Be alert to the opportunities around you.
• Ask.  As this writer found out, nothing ventured, nothing gained.  Don’t talk yourself out of a job before you even ask. 

TAGS: Job Search, job transitions, Leaving a bad boss or a job you hate

A young woman called the other day and asked how to handle being suddenly ”laid off.”  I asked a few questions about the size of the company, how many other people were laid off, etc.  As it turns out, she was the only one let go.  Listen up, girlfriends.  When only one person is laid off it’s not a lay-off — it’s a termination.  Weak, incompetent bosses who don’t have the guts to do their jobs by giving feedback to employees for how they can improve performance often use the euphemism laid off when they really mean fired.  If you find yourself in this situation, here’s what you do:

1.  Ask yourself how you missed the clues leading up to this.  Were you given subtle feedback that you ignored?  Did you not take your boss seriously when he or she told you to do a few things differently?  Did you not take time to build relationships with people who might have been honest with you about your performance?  Being fired should never come as a surprise if you are vigilant about the verbal and nonverbal messages being conveyed all the time in the workplace.
2. Ask the boss or HR for feedback.  Without being argumentative or defensive, simply ask for feedback that would help you to avoid being in this situation in the future.  Cowardly bosses won’t be honest but with any luck you might get some good insights to work on at the next job.
3. Negotiate.  It’s easier to find a job when you have a job, so see if you can negotiate to keep your office for a finite period of time or be given a workspace from which to conduct your job search.  Ask the company  to keep you on the payroll until you’ve used up vacation time, PTO, or sick time. This way you can legitimately say you are currently employed.  Similarly, negotiate a severence package that includes extended health insurance and other benefits.  If needed, hire a good labor lawyer to help you with this. 
4. Remember that job search is a numbers game.  There’s something called the “Rule of 21″ in job search.  For every 21 contacts you make you’ll get one positive response (not necessarily an offer but perhaps an interview or request for more information).  This means you need to cast your net wide and call in any favors that might be due to you.
5. Don’t look for a good job, look for a good fit.  Many times people are let go because they don’t quite fit in.  It could have nothing to do with your capability and everything to do with the fact that you don’t go out for drinks after work with the rest of the crowd.  Interview the interviewers by asking questions that give you a feel for how good a match you are for the company and vice versa. 

TAGS: Job Search, job transitions, lay-offs, managing your career, termination

Last week I had the great pleasure of meeting Liz Cornish, a consultant to major corporations around the globe and author of a wonderful book that I highly recommend:  Hit the Ground Running - A Woman’s Guide to Success for the First 100 Days on the Job.  It’s a practical and immediately applicable book that’s well worth the read and the $13.60 purchase price from Amazon.  If you’re transitioning into a new position you’ll find it useful even if you’re not assuming a formal leadership role. 

Here are just four of the great tips Liz offers:

1.  Recognize the opportunity to negotiate.

2.  Don’t let naysayers distract you from your focus.

3.  Tame your inner critic.  If you take a hit don’t take it personally.  Dust yourself off and get back into the game.

4.  Maintain your sense of humor.

And here are a few more coaching tips from me for how to transition smoothly and effectively:

5.  Whether you’re making a move to another department, to another role within the same department, or going to an entirely different company, develop a transition plan.

6.  Keep in mind that what worked for you in the past won’t necessarily continue to work for you in your new assignment/role.

7.  Take advantage of the “honeymoon” period (just about 100 days) to learn as much as you can about the company, its products, your boss’s agenda, clients, customers, and people with whom you work.  In most instances, no one expects you to be the expert during this period so don’t even try. 

8.  Don’t underestimate the critical importance of building 360 degree relationships right off the bat.  You’re going to need them. 

TAGS: job transitions, Liz Cornish, new leader, new to the job