333 N. Michigan Avenue
Suite 315
Chicago, Illinois 60601
312-782-9210

As the new year begins, most Americans in the workplace find themselves feeling insecure, fearful, angry and without any sense of trust that they will keep their jobs.

And with good reason:

In 1998 the length of the average job was six years; in 2002 it was two years. In 2003, the unemployment rate hovered between 5.9 -- 6.4%; a 6.0% unemployment rate is forecast for 2004.

Three million people have lost jobs and many more are without health care benefits. People feel no sense of advocacy from their managers in the workplace… because managers are busy looking out for themselves. Employees feel guarded because they fear this may be the week they lose their jobs.

As an executive coach and career strategist, I counsel these displaced workers every day. And it has become obvious that each worker must advocate for her/himself… and learn to continually assess and effectively manage her/his own career… because no one else will. Instead of worrying, understand and embrace this new business reality including the events that changed the workplace so drastically -- the shift from a production to a knowledge based economy... the impact of technology… mergers… the emergence of a “global economy”… extreme competition… 9/11… the Wall Street debacle… the war in Iraq… NAFTA.

This new business reality means that NO JOB IS SAFE. You must be prepared to change jobs quickly and efficiently.

Here is my ten point plan to help you stay ahead of the game… or have an even chance of surviving or thriving in the new workplace:

TEN KEY STEPS TO HELP YOU ASSESS AND MANAGE YOUR OWN CAREER

1. Take Your Career Temperature.
   • Have you developed any new skills this year, especially computer skills?
   • Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone, take a lateral move in your company and learn a new part of the business?
   • Have you become a problem solver?
   • Have you saved your company any money lately?
   • Do you read the current literature from your industry and share it with your team?
   • Can you or have you discovered an unmet need in your company and volunteered to fill it?
   • Do you know what your colleagues and customers think of you?
   • Are you aware of who your major competitors are and how they’re doing?
2. Create a Two Year Vision or Plan for Your Career. Make it fluid enough to adapt to today’s economic reality and write down your goals and objectives, to clarify it. The thinking and writing process will help you feel more secure about your future.
3. Devise a “Plan B”. Have a back up plan in anticipation of a possible job loss. Start saving more money. Three to six months of expenses should be your savings goal.
4. Build your “Personal Brand”. This process identifies your strengths, skills, expertise, management style and unique characteristics and packages them into a powerful identity that distinguishes you from the competition. Your “Personal Brand” is based on authenticity. It influences how people perceive you, engenders trust, and encourages your company to promote you or a competitor to hire you.
5. Build and Nurture a Strong and Effective Network of Friends and Professional Colleagues. Make a list of names and keep contact information current. Include former colleagues, friends, classmates, neighbors, acquaintances from church, the gym, etc. Contact each person monthly… one contact a day. Keep it simple; a two sentence email or a quick phone message. As you network, give freely of yourself, especially to those who are in a tough spot. It can come back to you in spades when you’re in a similar position. Remember, 80% of jobs still come from people you know, not from the internet or want ads.
6. Figure Out the (Informal) Power Base in Your Company. Make every effort to know and build solid relationships with these people who use their inform powerful… executive assistants, human resource personnel, finance staff, people who have been in the company many years.
7. Identify the Truly Respected Experts in Your Organization and Within Your Industry… and, Try to Get to Know Them. Create ways to meet them. Volunteer to participate in one of their more challenging projects, or write a note commenting on an article or book that a national expert has written. Find out which professional organizations these experts belong to and join if possible.
8. Determine Which Professional Organization Is the Most Prestigious in Your Industry And Join If Possible. Review the admission requirements. If you can’t afford to join, go to your boss and make a case for your membership and how it can help the entire team if you participate and share what you learn.
9. Compose a Two Minute Commercial About You. Briefly define who you are, what you do, your work history, successes, professional strengths, skills, unique characteristics and what your career/job objective is. Compose it and rehearse it until you are blue in the face… especially if you are looking for a new position or new client. Be prepared to share it with anyone, anytime. It’s a great way to market you!
10. Construct a Cutting Edge Resume and Keep It Current. Update it with your accomplishments every few months. Whenever possible,
    • Quantify your accomplishments using a number, a dollar amount or a percentage,
    • Cite examples of how you saved the company money, and
    • Stress your problem solving abilities.