They Don't Teach Corporate in College (55 page)

Sometimes, a layoff will take you completely by surprise. This is a traumatic experience, but do not allow it to destroy your confidence. Prospective employers recognize that companies are still downsizing as a result of the recent recession, and they will probably not hold a layoff against you. You should have no trouble landing on your feet, provided you start looking for another job right away. Interviewers will appreciate your resilience, whereas they may become skeptical if you stay off the market for too long. So if you're ever laid off, hold your head up high. Look at it as a good opportunity to find a company that truly values your talent and expertise.

I was afraid to quit my job, even though I was beginning to hate life. I basically liked the company I worked for, so I started talking to people about opportunities in other departments. Turns out that one of the managers doing business development had noticed me during the few times we'd worked together. He was building up his team, and he'd heard that I had a good reputation. I didn't tell my current boss about it until the terms of my transfer—which included a promotion and a substantial raise—were nearly finalized. By that time, it was too late for her to try and stop me.

Seth, 24, Delaware

As I've talked about before, few employees today are lifers, or individuals who stay at the same organization for the duration of their careers. In particular, junior employees are both encouraged and expected to move around during their 20s. Even if you're happy with your job, it always pays to be on the lookout for the next big thing. This way, instead of waiting patiently to be promoted year after year, you can sell your skills to a new employer for a higher title and salary right now. In this section, I'll discuss the mechanics behind
smart career moves, including how to transfer to a lateral position within your current organization, and how to scope out opportunities in a new company or in a new field.

One important caveat before I begin: Be wary of changing jobs too often. As a twenty-something in business, you should hold each job for at least a year before you consider a change. Individuals who switch more often become known as chronic job-jumpers, and employers avoid these candidates like the plague. When a hiring manager sees a resume listing four jobs in three years, he won't wait to hear your explanation. He'll think that you can't hold down a job, and he will move on to the next person.

If you are a chronic job-jumper and find yourself looking for a way out once again, you might want to do some soul-searching. A pattern of unsatisfying work experiences could mean that the problem lies not with the jobs or the companies, but with you. Here's an example: In my early career I worked with a woman named Joselyn who was a few years older than me. Joselyn tried in vain to find job satisfaction in a few different positions. Eventually she realized that, although her five work situations had been very different, her negative attitude was the one constant. She wasted a lot of time looking high and low for a better job when she should have been focusing on how she could be happier and more effective where she was. Don't let this happen to you.

As you're preparing to make a move, ask yourself the following questions, to ensure that you're leaving for the right reasons. Consider the answers carefully, and be realistic!

Why do you want to look for a new job?

Are you satisfied doing what you're doing?

Are you adequately challenged? If not, do you even want to be challenged?

Do you like the people and work environment?

Are you fairly compensated?

Are you treated with respect?

Are you empowered to do your job effectively?

The longer you work at a company, the more exposure you have to different functional areas. You may have even been fortunate enough to experience
a job rotation, or a series of assignments in various parts of the company designed to provide a breadth of experiences. As you get to know more players and talk to them about what they do, you may find your interest piqued. There is usually no shortage of opportunities for driven and well-regarded twenty-somethings who want to transfer internally. Managers are always looking for good employees with a basic skill set and industry/company knowledge who won't come with huge salary requirements. Also, companies generally prefer to fill open positions by hiring from within. Some even have policies dictating that they
must
consider qualified internal candidates before they can expand a job search outside the company.

One type of internal transfer is the lateral move. In a lateral move, a strong employee takes on a new position at the same level as his former position. Most organizations encourage these because they are mechanisms for keeping good people happy and sufficiently challenged without promoting them. Lateral moves also save businesses the cost and risk of bringing in new employees who are unknown commodities. You may want to consider a lateral move if any of the following circumstances apply:

You're more interested in stretching your wings and experiencing new things than moving up the ladder as fast as possible.

You feel you are at a dead end in your current position, and you want to open a new door.

The company is decreasing its focus on your area, and you want to better position yourself for long-term career growth.