A Career Within a Career?

Recently there have been several articles published about the value of working for huge companies and moving from field to field and department within those companies. I would discourage most employees from doing so unless that is part of their “career path” as guided from at least two levels of management above them.

Why are moves within a large company not career enhancers?
• Everyone needs an area of expertise until they hit middle management. By moving from department to department, you only have a moderate level of expertise and will be judged as such.
• Moving from department to department labels you as a short timer rather than as someone on the way up. Staying in one department or field and creating a record of success in that department or field will get you noticed. If you just move around, odds are you will not build a period after period set of performance results and accomplishments.
• Whether it is marketing, sales, operations, IT, finance or another area, to become middle management or higher requires both knowledge and performance over time. A few years in each just creates as career patchwork.
• If you are unhappy with your company, moving to another department will not change things. If you are truly unhappy, stay in your field and find a job with another company.

Rather than moving from department to department, spice up your career – and your resume with:
• Additional education and certifications.
• Professional organizational participation.
• Actively network within and outside of your company within your industry and your field.
• Volunteer for task forces and special projects which will have a major impact on the business and which have executive level sponsorship and visibility.

After all of this, if you still have time and energy, follow your passion through your hobbies and avocations outside of work.

Your Q and Our A

An opportunity for readers to bring specific issues to our attention and for us to share our recommendations.


"Dear George..."

"I am thirty-five years old. I have worked in the same industry and for the same company since I graduated from college.

There are alot of rumors at my company, where I work in marketing at the corporate headquarters, about outsourcing of jobs and deep job cuts across the board. I have always received good performance ratings and raises but my boss is not well regarded by the top leadership. Additionally, I am nervous that if I go over his head with ideas or recommendations, that it will jeopardize my job.

What do you recommend that I do?"

Sandy M.
New York City, NY


Dear Sandy,

Your situation is more common than you might realize.

First, make sure you have an updated, top-notch resume. Keep it on your home computer, not the one at work.

Secondly, network like crazy OUTSIDE of your company. Join professional groups - if you do not already belong. Go to at least a couple of meetings per month with different professional groups. This will help you meet people outside of your company in your field. And remember, offer to help others, do not just ask them for help. Bring business cards too but write your personal (non-business) e-mail address on the back of them.

A few points about outsourcing, pending layoffs and your boss:

- If your company is going to cut, you may be impacted no matter how well regarded you are BUT do all you can to stand in the top 25% of the company based on performance. This can only help you. To that end, focus on meeting and exceeding ALL of your objectives.

- Network within your company. Volunteer for business-related committees, task forces and other cross-functional and cross-organizational teams to make sure you are known outside of your work group. Make sure people do not view you as a clone of your "not well regarded" boss.

Finally, if you have a great idea, do not limit sharing it with your boss. Find ways to communicate your business ideas beyond your "chain of command". Make sure you do it in such a way that your boss does not feel "blind-sided". But at the end of the day remember, "if it is going to be, it is up to me".

George

CareerandLeaderhip.com Quarterly E-zine

Unfortunately the service that hosts our quarterly e-zine (Dot5Hosting Inc.), CareerandLeadership.com, has seen fit to move to a new platform without notifying us. As such, the April-June 2008 issue of CareerandLeadership.com is "on hold" until further notice (read that as until we find a new web hosting service that provides some quality level of customer and technical support).

In the interim, we will continue to publish articles on career, work life, leadership, image and related topics here.

Additionally, our "Dear George..." feature, will move to this blog until further notice.

Thank you for your patience and your support.

George F. Franks, III
Editor-in-Chief
CareerandLeadership.com