Answered by Clyde C. Lowstuter, President and CEO, Robertson Lowstuter
International
1. How can I use more of my skills to get the
visibility, promotions, and money I want and deserve?
2. I get along well with everyone in the company
but my boss. He treats me poorly and doesn’t appreciate the work I do. It
is now beginning to affect my performance. Should I leave?
3. My company was just acquired by a major competitor,
a bitter rival. I’m worried about them eliminating my position in a downsizing.
What can I do to protect my job, as I do not want to leave?
4. I have a new boss, and her operating style
is quite different than mine. How do I know what to expect?
5. How do I determine the best career path for
me?
6. I feel overwhelmed and overworked. How do
I accomplish more without working longer hours?
7. When do you know it is time to leave your
job?
8. What should I tell my family about my being
fired?
9. Should I have a two-page resume?
10. Should my resume include references? How
do I develop a list of references? Whom should I include? Will they be checked?
What about personal references?
1. How can I use more of my skills to get the
visibility, promotions, and money I want and deserve?
Clyde—The simplest strategies often
work the best. Go to your manager and tell him or her that you want to
contribute more in a given area (an area in which you have already-identified
skills). Be sure to have first critically assessed your capabilities and
skills against what you seem to be utilizing on the job. Recommend to
your boss a particular course of action for yourself that would give you
an opportunity to showcase your talents. You may have a need for more
on-the-job experience, assertive training, and/or mentoring.
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2. I get along well with everyone in the company
but my boss. He treats me poorly and doesn’t appreciate the work I do.
It is now beginning to affect my performance. Should I leave?
Clyde—Perhaps. However, before you
jump ship just because you might be uncomfortable, you should determine
the extent to which you and your boss have irreconcilable differences.
Your problem might stem from more than one issue. The top two sources
of conflict are significant interpersonal style differences or lack of
role clarity/performance expectations. Talk openly with your boss regarding
your desire to do a good job and your frustration that he/she and you
are not communicating well. Who knows, this might be the ice breaker you
always wanted. You may wish to revisit your personal Performance Management
plan and performance objectives. You may wish to read Step 3 in In Search
of the Perfect Job so you might learn to be more results-oriented.
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3. My company was just acquired by a major competitor,
a bitter rival. I’m worried about being seen as redundant and my position
being eliminated in a downsizing. What can I do to protect my job, as
I do not want to leave?
Clyde—Gaining visibility, adding
value, and demonstrating flexibility are several top ways to protect your
job. Some examples: Volunteer to be on the task force that helps evaluate
the integration of the two companies. Develop recommendations on operating
efficiencies. Volunteer to assume some of your boss’s responsibilities
if he or she will be tied up on things concerning the acquisition. While
strategizing to remain in the role/company is worthy of respect, you may
also need to start preparing your credentials in case the worst happens.
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4. I have a new boss, and her operating style
is quite different than mine. How do I know what to expect?
Clyde—Ask her how she functions,
what her performance expectations are, how she approaches issues, etc.
You should ask her about her behavioral style do’s and don’ts so you aren’t
caught blindsided. An old Zen expression may be appropriate for you to
remember: Expect the unexpected and assume responsibility for the outcome—whatever
it may be. Communicate your desire to perform in an outstanding manner.
Ask for her help in achieving significant results and legitimize her giving
you straight feedback when needed.
 In Search
of the Perfect Job, “Worksheet 3: Ineffective Operating Style Shifts”
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5. How do I determine the best career path for
me?
Clyde—In our book, In Search of
the Perfect Job published by McGraw-Hill, there are a number of exercises
which will help you zero in on those skill sets, job activities, boss-subordinate
relationships, and working environments which empower you and represent
a sound fit. One worksheet asks you, “Why would an employer be interested
in your skills in this new role?” While there are no guarantees that
you will successfully change careers, the insights you gain from these
highly-practical worksheets should help you move forward with greater
confidence.
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6. I feel overwhelmed and overworked. How do
I accomplish more without working longer hours?
Clyde—You first need to examine the
source of your stress and feelings of being overwhelmed. Are you in a
new job, and have you needed to work really long hours to learn the role?
Are you under-qualified for your job and afraid to admit it to yourself
or others? Are you stressed because of some external factor, like a new,
highly-demanding boss, or internal factors, like the irrational drive
for absolute perfection? You may also wish to ask for feedback from someone
who knows you well who will tell you the unvarnished truth, as they see
it. Become informed, develop several options, identify what you gain/lose,
seek feedback, make the decision, and manage the decision. You may benefit
from In Search of the Perfect Job and/or some Career Assessment counseling
support as it relates to what is working well and what is not.
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7. When do you know it is time to leave your
job?
Clyde—If you are miserable and your
self-confidence and self-esteem are shattered, flee, but only after you
have critically assessed whether you have done everything in your power
to turn around your situation or whether you are in the right role or
right organizational setting. Stephen Covey said, “Seek first to
understand and then to be understood.” My bias is to grow where you
are planted first before you look for work outside of your current company.
Your problems often follow you around from employer to employer unless
you understand to what extent you are responsible for creating them. You
would be well advised to listen to all your sources of feedback—your head,
your heart, and your gut. Intellectually, your head might be telling you
that you are being well paid and the company has an excellent reputation,
but your gut is telling you to flee, run away! Listen to your gut; it
will probably speak the truth faster than your head and heart.
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8. What should I tell my family about my being
fired?
Clyde—My overall reaction is to not
hide out and pretend that nothing is amiss, as the stress and strain will
show up elsewhere and you run the risk of having your behavior misunderstood
by those who are close to you. Tell your family and close friends the
truth, but perhaps not the whole truth with all the gory details. Less
is more; less intimate detail is more powerful and convincing. Watch your
language. Make sure that it is not blame-oriented or portraying yourself
as victim, as you will then be seen or experienced as one who is beat-up,
emotional, and one to be avoided.
You’ll
find a wealth of practical answers to this and other questions in our bestseller
In Search of the Perfect Job in our Product
Catalog.
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9. Should I have a two-page resume?
Clyde—Your resume should be long
enough to powerfully present your credentials and provoke the resume “scanner”
to call you for an interview. If you have more than 10 years experience,
including college student internships, then a two-page resume would probably
be the perfect length. Conversely, if you are a recent graduate, then
a one-page resume would probably be fine.
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10. Should my resume include references? How
do I develop a list of references? Whom should I include? Will they be
checked? What about personal references?
Clyde—Never include references on
your resume. Your references are very valuable, and you only want to give
them out when there is serious job interest on your part. If your references
are on your resume, you have virtually no control over when and how they
may be contacted, if ever.
Consider developing a list of references from people who know you well—notably,
your bosses, peers, and subordinates. Include those who are articulate,
willing to speak candidly, and represent you effectively. Count on every
reference being contacted, including some people whose names you did not
list. While the vast majority of references should be business, occasionally
it is OK to include a personal reference if the person is well renowned
and respected locally, regionally, nationally, or internationally.
Note: If you are interested in gaining additional strategies,
insights, and tactics on careering issues, personal growth, and job hunting,
you may wish to order my career resources from the RL Product
Catalog. The books, audiotape album, and the individual tape programs
have a lot of great information for folks who are committed to excelling
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me to hypothesize that you are interested in advancing your career. Congratulations
for your dedication and commitment.
Check out the RL Product Catalog—you’ll
be glad you did. There is a money-back guarantee if our material isn’t everything
we say it is and more!. All you have to do is ask yourself the questions,
How can I apply this idea? and How can I adapt this practice or approach
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and apply at least one idea that is far more beneficial than the cost of
the books or tapes. On that basis, buying from us is risk-free.
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