DEVJOBS - Feature article

Is This Job Right for You?

by James E. Challenger

Though most people acknowledge the importance of having a job, many do not recognize the importance of being in the right job.

The right job is one that is in line with your final career objectives, one which will benefit you both at the moment and in the long run. If a job is not chosen carefully, it could lead to an unpleasant, unproductive tenure and prove detrimental to your career. A bad choice could sidetrack your future or invite a black mark on the critical employment record.

Here are four guidelines that may be helpful in arriving at a successful job choice:

Do not take jobs that do not fit in with career aims. It is wise to investigate the total picture. What are your ultimate career objectives? Where do you want to go? Only by establishing a destination can you plot a course to reach it. Jobs should act as stepping stones to the deter-mined goal. One question to ask of any job is, "How will it get me closer to my goal?" That does not necessarily mean the imposition of a schedule (i.e., "I want position X in seven and a half years"). The idea is to help yourself without being hard on yourself.

The danger in taking a job that is not in line with your objectives is you may further distance yourself from your aims. Such a move not only diverts you from your goal, it can make it difficult for you to return to the right path. Nor will building a well-rounded background move you ahead. Companies want experts, not jacks-of-all-trades.

Plan to stay four to five years in a company. You should plan on acceptable periods of tenure for each company. Four to five years is considered respectable - not too long, not too short. Either extreme could weaken your job record. If you stay too long in one job, it may be assumed that you were not able to handle extended responsibilities or had no motivation to tackle them. You may acquire a "one company" label. Though such a designation was valued 20 years ago, it is less-highly regarded today. Most prospective employers prefer the person who has served the four- to-five-year span already noted and has a background of experience on several jobs.

If you do not stay long enough, you may be branded as a job hopper. Hiring executives are inclined to reason that you were either unable to handle the position's duties or could not get along with co-workers.

Short-term tenure also evokes the image of an irresponsible employee, one who simply cannot hold down a job and is prone to being released or quitting. By taking a risk on a job that does not work out, you may unwittingly be damaging your prospects in the future. Listen to any misgivings you may have when evaluating a job.

Choose exposure over positions which promise less visibility. You should be visible and preferably located at corporate headquarters rather than a branch office. If you are assigned to an isolated department or geographical area, you will probably be out of touch with the rainmakers at corporate headquarters. Sitting in a branch office, you may first learn about exciting initiatives at headquarters through the newspaper. When you are located at headquarters, you are more readily noticed. You also have a chance to help improve the company's business, increasing your prospects for being promoted.

Choose organizations with people that think as you do. One major consideration is whether the company has a "personality" similar to yours. It is important that the organization think like you, or probably more important that you think like your company.

For example, it may not be best to target a "hot" organization or industry simply because it appears to promise rapid growth. People who can adapt to the pace will welcome the challenge and are best suited to match that com- pany's profile. But those who are not "fast track" will be more comfortable and productive elsewhere. By taking a job with a fast-growth organization, they may be making the wrong choice.

If you are mismatched, you could be placed in an alien environment, attending to responsibilities which you cannot manage, let alone excel at.

You could have been promoted more quickly by performing more appropriate duties elsewhere. Being challenged is fine but being overwhelmed is not. Generally, you will be doing yourself and your employer the most good by being in a company where you belong.

Because job-related decisions are crucial, you should not act on impulse but rather proceed according to a larger plan. Question whether the job will help you attain an ultimate goal. By choosing wisely, it is possible to avoid many of the pitfalls which may hinder advancement. When you place yourself on the right track in a company, the hazards of discharge and job dissatisfaction are lessened. A good performance within a position serves as the next step to that final objective.

James E. Challenger, president of Challenger, Gray and Christmas, Inc, pioneered outplacement as an employer-paid benefit. His third book, The Challenger Guide: Job-Hunting Success for Mid-Career Professionals (Contemporary Books) is available at Amazon.com.

Networking In Job Search
by Ngeow Yoke Meng

JobStreet

Job seekers must take greater initiative to establish human networks in their search for a job. Given an employment market where the supply exceeds the demand for labour, companies tend to pay particular attention to candidates who are recommended by people they know or trust.

Rationally, from companies' point of view, good people often know other good people. It is therefore safer and easier to recruit someone who, by words-of-mouth, is believed to be trustworthy, hardworking and committed to his job.

From job seekers' point of view, good people often know about the good jobs. Hence, it is more likely to find a good job through someone they know. A job seeker who has a better networking skill is more likely to meet his career needs within a shorter period. More importantly, there is expectedly less hassle for him in the entire recruiting process.

A network is a group of social and work acquaintances who know who we are, what we want to do, our personality, potentials, limitations, and even our dreams. In short, a network is anyone who might be in a position to assist us in our job search. Identifying our existing network and establishing contacts with them are effective ways to seek for or maintain a rewarding and meaningful career.

Who are the networks around us? Networks can be found in formal professional organizations as well as informal social groups such as

immediate family members, e.g. parents, brothers, sisters
extended family members, e.g. in-laws, cousins, uncles
parents' friends and associates
neighbours
schoolmates/classmates/roommates
lecturers/teachers/mentors
co-workers/superiors/subordinates
people from place of worship
people having the same hobby
social club members/friends
sports team members
fellow volunteers
incidental acquaintances, e.g. bus stop companions, car-pool companions, shop attendants

How to approach these network? In order for others to offer a job, or arrange for a job interview, you need to tell them what you wish to achieve and when you are available for the job offer. Here are some simple guidelines:

Start with people whom you feel comfortable to talk to, someone familiar who is helpful, friendly, resourceful, ready to listen and interested to know about your needs.
Keep a record of the name, telephone number, e-mail or business address of the people you know who work in your area of interests and talk to them.
Gradually expand the networking to other related professions to increase the chances of getting a job.
Spread the news to as many people as possible and let them know you are ready for job interview or willing to start work immediately.
Do not hesitate to seek help even if you have been retrenched. People understand that you should not be blamed given the current economic situation.
If you feel uncomfortable to ask for a favour from a person, try asking about the nature of his career, instead of vacancies at his workplace.
Be tactful when you are asking for relevant job information from someone you have not met. Do not mention about job application during the appointment. Write him a thank you card to remind him of your existence.
Never mention about salary scale if you have not been offered a job. Let the negotiation take place during job interview, not when you are networking with others.