by Skip Freeman
EDITOR'S NOTE: SKIP FREEMAN is a veteran "headhunter"
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Chances are, if you are currently employed, you probably think there is little, if any, reason you should even be thinking about finding another job. Actually, nothing could be further from the truth. With companies shedding jobs virtually every day, no one is "safe" in today's BRUTAL job market, and that certainly includes those who are currently employed.
Based upon years of experience, as well as what I see in the job market each and every day, here are the "Top Ten" mistakes employed people are making:
MISTAKE #1: Not realizing that the best time to find your next job is while you have a job. In today’s economic environment, many employed people are overworked, haven’t had a decent pay raise, have not been able to take vacation, many are furloughed, etc. There is a huge pent up level of dissatisfaction in the work place. A recent survey by Robert Half indicates that 58% of the work force plans on making a career change as soon as the economy gets better (and that number goes to 79% in the 18- to 35-year old category).
What does that mean? It means that as soon as the economy gets better, the number of people competing for openings will double and, whether it is fair or not and whether one likes it or not, currently employed people have an edge over unemployed people.
So, if you are dissatisfied at work, NOW is the time to begin to ramp up your job search before everyone else does.
MISTAKE #2: Believing that a company will be loyal to you. Loyalty is gone. If a company has a choice to keep you or cut you, they will do what is in their self interest. If you can bring a return to them that is worth more than your cost, they keep you. If they believe you cost them more than you are worth, they let you go. They don’t care about whether or not you will be on the unemployment line. They don’t care whether you will have health insurance or not. They don’t care whether you have kids or not, etc. So your keeping an eye open for better opportunity is no different from the company keeping an eye on its bottom line and determining every month whether you are worth it to them or not to keep on the payroll.
MISTAKE #3: Not keeping an updated resume handy. When I was in grad school, one of my professors said that there are FOUR things you always need to have available. (1) A certified copy of your birth certificate;
MISTAKE #4: Not creating (and updating) your LinkedIn profile. This is a must for any professional. (And, by the way, make sure your LinkedIn profile and a resume profile are the same.)
MISTAKE #5: Failing to align yourself with an excellent recruiter within your niche. Good recruiters become career coaches and finding one is a lot like finding a good doctor, lawyer or accountant. You may have to work with several before you find one that gels with your needs and personality. Once you do, stay in touch. You don’t use recruiters everyday just like you don’t go to a lawyer everyday (at least I hope not.) But develop a relationship with one so that when you need to activate them, they are there to help you.
MISTAKE #6: Failing to become a “rag man” within your industry. (See page 69 in “Headhunter"
MISTAKE #7: Failing to develop (and keep updated) your personal marketing portfolio (See pages 20-23 and 67-68 in “Headhunter”
MISTAKE #8: Failing to ensure that you can be easily found (and professionally found) (See page 24 in “Headhunter”
MISTAKE #9: Failing to learn how to network properly (See pages 85 – 102 in “Headhunter”
MISTAKE #10: And, if offered a job by a company, accepting the counteroffer by your current company. (The counter offer is career suicide. See pages 243-244 in “Headhunter”
If you are currently employed, how many of these "mistakes" are you making? Remember, the Boy Scouts have a great motto: Be Prepared! Certainly, if you want to survive in today's "challenging"
