Heed warning signs to keep career on safe track
The roads are not the only place where we tend to flout norms and ignore warning signals. The hangover, it appears, is carried over to our personal and professional lives as well. The majority of people are often caught unawares (the typical hare in the headlights syndrome) by career catastrophes such as a layoff, company bankruptcy or mergers, never mind the ample warning signs staring down their faces.
Why is it that we miss the writing on the wall despite so many signs of imminent danger that are apparent? It perhaps has something to do with the human tendency to get so preoccupied with personal priorities that we neglect to notice what is happening right under our noses.
In an uncertain economy, getting clued into these telltale hints early on can give you the lead-time you need to secure your job and career before things start taking a turn for the worse.
Keep that internal red light on full alert and start taking prudent steps to secure your career, should you spy on some or any of these warning signals:
You get the feeling that something is not quite right with the company you are in. It may start off with something as simple as a culture problem or a lack of communication. If you find that you are not kept abreast of happenings that are going on within the company and about key decisions that are made by the management, it is a clear portend of things to come.
Talks of large-scale budget cuts, restructuring or merger. These are definite signs of trouble, particularly if the company has not been doing well in the last couple of years. If restructuring is carried out in a troubled scenario, there will likely be a large-scale downsizing of jobs.
You haven’t had a detailed discussion about your career plans with your boss in the last one-year. You find that your request for lateral opportunities, more responsibility and training are being turned down. You don’t have an amicable working relationship with your peers and boss.
The unexpected resignation of some or several of key management staff, remember, people in management are the first ones to be aware of any trouble in the company, and the first ones to quit before the ship starts sinking. If you find them leaving, you have reason to smell something fishy.
Sudden pressure to document everything you do. While it is a good practice to document and back up work, if the management is unduly pressurising you to keep a written record of every single aspect of your work without any apparent reason, it is a fairly clear indication that your job is headed for the guillotine.
Rumour mill on the overdrive. The grapevine tends to be on the overdrive when things are falling apart, and while you should not believe everything that comes through the grapevine, it is your responsibility to take protective or preventive steps to ensure that a sudden career setback does not catch you on the back foot.
What you should do?
Talk to mentors and people you respect within the organisation and take their advice before drawing conclusions. Schedule a one on one meeting with your boss to discuss your career prospects before you take aggressive steps.
Update your skills and stay on par with global trends in your industry.
Start building a nest egg for any emergency. Keep a tight rein on the finances. Work on your resume, network with associates and start scouting around for jobs discreetly. Keep your expectations reasonable.
While these red flags may or may not amount to anything, it is better to be prepared for the worst.
A job loss or an unexpected career setback can send your dreams crashing down. What they say about being a sensible roadie holds good for your career too.
Fasten your seat belts, stick to speed limits, go by the rules and have a first aid box handy. While an accident may not be entirely preventable, it will be easier for you to handle the consequences if you are geared up and equipped to deal with the possibility.
