When is the Best Time to Change Careers?
One of the most
important aspects of career planning is timing. Being
at the right place at the right time is key. One of the
major reasons to work with recruiting firms has to do
with timing. Recruiters work with all types of clients
and can introduce you to a variety of industries. In
the region, there are many high-profile manufacturers,
insurers, health care providers, financial institutions,
real estate developers, media, pharmaceutical and
telecommunications companies. Large recruiting firms,
like Gateway Search, have long track records in placing
people, at all levels, in these types of organizations.
If you have
considered looking at other opportunities, then it is
just a matter of timing. Once you have decided to
change employers, the next step is to keep your eyes and
ears open for that “ideal position”. Keep in mind that
the tactic of staying in a position to get the next
title or next salary is a short-term approach. Most
employers compensate new employees based on experience
and skills. Large companies base their salary offers on
pre-determined grade levels. In most cases, the current
or projected salary of a candidate has no bearing on an
offer made. It is all about internal equity with
current and future employees. Smaller companies may not
have the same “internal equity” constraints that larger
companies face, however when considering a smaller size
company, bear in mind the long-term growth potential.
The key to timing
your next career move is a game plan. Sit down with a
professional recruiter and plot out your plan. You have
to be honest with yourself. Do you want the title now
(Big Fish in a little Pond) or are you willing to work
your way to the top of a Fortune 500 company (Little
Fish in a big Pond). Remember that titles don’t mean a
lot – there are $80K senior accountants and $60K
controllers. Base your goals on what you see yourself
doing five or ten years down the road.
Remember that the planning and
coordinating that got you into a good accounting program
in college, and then into that first great career out of
school, should not be tossed overboard. Think long-term
and avoid the quick fix career move that doesn’t offer
the best career development options.
It Only Took Jerry Seinfeld a Few Words
to Drop the Best Career Advice You'll Hear Today
Always remember: It's not about you.
By
Justin BarisoFounder,
Insight@JustinJBariso
https://www.inc.com/justin-bariso/it-only-took-jerry-seinfeld-a-few-words-to-drop-best-career-advice-youll-hear-today.html
Jerry Seinfeld is one of the most successful standup
comedians of all time.
Seinfeld parlayed his ability to find hilarity in the
seemingly mundane and trivial occurrences of everyday
life into a wildly popular sitcom that ran for nine
seasons. In recent years, he's created and hosted the
successful web series
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee, and
has since made a triumphant return to the standup scene.
So, how has Seinfeld managed to stay relevant for
decades?
Recently, I came across an interview
in which the famous comedian shared some interesting
insights on
what he's learned about comedy through the years.
My favorite part was the following quote:
If you're doing it for them, you'll be fine. If you're
doing it for you, that could be problematic at a certain
point--because they'll know it. They'll feel it.
And they won't like it.
Pondering Seinfeld's words, I believe they hold value
far beyond the entertainment industry. And we could sum
up the key point in just nine words:
It is not about you. It's all about them.
The power of
focusing on others
Think about your favorite boss, your closest colleagues,
the best salesperson you ever met. What quality did they
have in common?
I
bet it's their ability to put others' interests ahead of
their own.
On the surface, this may not make sense. How can someone
succeed if they are always focused on the problems of
others?
But that's exactly why this works. No man is an
island. The whole purpose of work is to provide value to
others--and that's true whether you're a standup
comedian or a barista at Starbucks. The more value
you provide, the more others will value you.
Don't believe me? Ask Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. For
years, he has credited Amazon's growth and long-term
success on what he calls an "obsessive-compulsive focus
on the customer."
In fact, right on Amazon's website you'll find that
"customer obsession" is number one on its list
of 14 leadership principles:
Customer Obsession: Leaders
start with the customer and work backwards. They work
vigorously to earn and keep customer trust. Although
leaders pay attention to competitors, they obsess over
customers.
It is not about you. It's all about them.
Additionally, focusing on others will make you a better:
ˇ
Presenter, because
you avoid speaking over your audience or boring them to
death, and instead tailor your words to them, keeping
them engaged.
ˇ
Writer, because
you find the balance between giving readers needed
information without overwhelming them with unnecessary
details.
ˇ
Salesperson, because
if a buyer feels you have their best interests at heart,
they'll seek you out when it's time to buy.
ˇ
Manager, because
you recognize the need to give encouragement and praise,
while delivering corrective feedback in a way
employees see as constructive rather than negative.
ˇ
Leader, because
you build trust with others when you make them feel that
they're important to you. And people will always follow
someone they trust.
As Seinfeld says, people can feel when you're out for
yourself. It pushes others away.
But, in contrast, they can also sense when you're
striving to put their interests first--and that leaves
them with a good feeling. This results in their being
more responsive and willing to help when you're in need.
So, if you truly want to increase your chances at
success--at just about anything--you have to remember:
It
is not about you. It's all about them.
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