Career Chaos

CAREER CHANGE - WHAT'S HEADING YOUR WAY?

In his weekly address to the nation today, President-elect Obama hints at what could yet come for U.S. workers - potentially millions of layoffs in 2009. But he also proposes a plan: "The economic recovery plan being developed by his staff aims to create 2.5 million jobs by January 2011."

The Big Question: Will you be ready to change jobs - even careers - if necessary? Now's the time to take stock of what you know, what you can do, and what you can learn. Don't let a layoff catch you off guard - be ready for it even if you can't imagine how YOUR job could possibly be in jeopardy.

While financial expert Suze Orman says now is the time to "hunker down," only pay for purchases with cash, and save 10% of your income -- now is NOT the time to "hunker down" job where your job is concerned. Instead, you have to become proactive - take charge - grab control of your career and your job. Whatever you do, don't trust your company to take care of you - you must take care of yourself.

[Sidebar: Last week I bid an outplacement project for a small company that was eliminating the positions of three employees - each person over 50 years of age and each with 13-20 years' experience at the company. THIS COULD ALSO HAPPEN TO YOU!]

Career change is never easy. It requires an open mind, flexibility, and acceptance that your current job situation is going in a different direction whether you want to go with the flow or not. Please, use this time while you're still employed to create your personal career plan. Take the time to do the research to know where you could fit in if the next layoff hits you.

JOB IN JEOPARDY? CHECK OUT YOUR CITY'S RANKING

Afraid that a layoff may strike you? See how you city ranks for economic growth according to the "Biz Journals":

Growth center rankings for 100 top metros

This list can also you help plan your next career move.

NO JOB COMES WITH A GUARANTEE

Are you in "hunker down" mode at work - just trying not to "make waves?" Afraid that the next layoff may snag YOU?

Now's not the time to act like an ostrich - but more like a bird of prey. Get proactive. If you like your job, find ways to become more visible in the workplace. Make yourself indispensible. Ask for extra work - get cross trained in various areas of responsibilities.

But if you feel like a seat warmer in your job or if you are burned out and can't bear the thought of taking on more work, then perhaps you are due for a career change.

What? A career change now? Yes! There are still industries that are hiring - you just have to find out which ones. Some fields (e.g., healthcare, security, some technology - to name a few) are needing new hires. You'll need to get answers to questions such as: 1) Will your skills transfer? 2) Will this new job pay enough? 3) Will you like the work?

But first find out if a career change is for you. Take a free assessment such as the one you find at www.CareerChangeSigns.com. This can be the first step to your wanting again to get up in the morning to go to work. You owe it to yourself to know if a career change is for you.