They Don't Teach Corporate in College (53 page)

Once you've been in your first position a year or two, it may be time to think about making a strategic career move. Why? No matter how well you're perceived in your current role, you'll move up more quickly if you change
jobs. Now that you have some experience under your belt, you can command a higher salary, a better title, and more responsibility if you go elsewhere. Your 20s are the best time to make such a move, because you possess a certain degree of personal freedom. Most twenty-somethings don't have to worry about how a job switch will affect their children's school schedule. You uncover a new opportunity, and carpe diem!

Unfortunately, the decision to leave a job is not always one you have the luxury to make. Sometimes, for reasons you might not be able to control, you may be fired or laid off. In this chapter, I'll discuss how to detect and repair when your job may be on the line. Next, if you're ready for that strategic career move, I'll walk you through some techniques for scoping out a new career or position inside and outside your current company. I'll also cover good reasons to leave a job that aren't so strategic, such as being in an abusive situation. Finally, I'll talk about ways to make a graceful exit and preserve ties with your employer that will serve you well in the future.

I had a feeling my job was in trouble when things started happening in my area that I didn't know about. All of a sudden, other people in my department were calling my clients without keeping me in the loop. This, combined with the fact that I had a new boss, clued me in that something bad was about to go down. I had been a loyal employee for three years and didn't want to leave, so I confronted my boss about it. I told him how committed I was to the new administration and asked him how I could adjust my performance to meet his needs. I think he was a little surprised that I was savvy enough to figure out what was going on. I bent over backwards to please him for a while, and he gave me a break and let me keep my job.

Orrin, 28, Washington

When my friend David was fired, he saw it coming. He had a new boss, with whom he clashed terribly. David had been an excellent employee, but after his new manager started criticizing him all the time, David lost his motivation. Eventually, he was just going through the motions. Once David's manager officially documented his poor performance, David knew his days were numbered. He was not surprised when he got the axe a month later.

Some bored or miserable employees might not have the emotional energy to consider whether they might be fired. Maybe it's all they can do to drag themselves to work in the morning. They think about quitting, but because they don't have anywhere else to go, they stick around and put in the minimum effort. Does this describe you? Let this serve as a wake-up call: If you hate it enough and don't do anything to fix the problem, your job is probably in jeopardy. Why? Long-term job dissatisfaction is difficult to hide. Your boss probably knows you're unhappy, and, if the situation continues, she'll probably find a way to get rid of you. Here are some other scenarios that should set off your smoke alarm:

You received a bad review or were put on probation.

You are no longer being consulted on new projects.

Your colleagues are inexplicably ignoring you.

You have a new boss with whom you don't get along.

Your boss has started giving your responsibilities to other people.

Your colleagues stop including you in relevant meetings.

You haven't kept your skills current or up to par.

You haven't accomplished what you were hired to do.

You don't adapt well to changes within the company.

You've been told that you need an attitude adjustment.

You don't fit the organizational mold.