| 7 steps to take to get your next opportunity | | | | your activities. |
| In today's business environment, many people have | | | | This includes timing to complete a resume and secure |
| been laid off, given early or forced retirement or | | | | feedback from a professional-HR, recruiter, senior |
| been the casualty in a merger or acquisition. In | | | | executive, etc. prior to sharing broadly. Your resume |
| addition, there are several persons have been | | | | should clearly communicate what you're looking to do |
| terminated, "let go" or fired by their employer. | | | | next, and reinforce why you are a person that needs |
| You are not alone; this is and has happened to | | | | to be contacted for that type of opportunity. |
| millions of Americans over the past several years. So | | | | Fifth, create an "elevator speech" that can be shared |
| the issue is less about "why me" and more about the | | | | with others. |
| changing nature of business. | | | | It is essentially a brief capsule of who you are, what |
| The first step is to take a breath. | | | | you'd like to do next and why you're an appropriate |
| Use the first few days to reflect. Reflect on | | | | person to do it. This speech needs to be tight |
| yourself, the situation, things that are important to | | | | enough to share quickly with a busy executive, or |
| you-personally and professionally. This is a fantastic | | | | has the ability to be expanded in a face to face |
| time to reinvent yourself for the next opportunity. | | | | meeting. |
| However, one must be introspective first. | | | | Sixth, develop a networking plan. |
| Prior to advancing into implementing your plan to | | | | This includes a broad list of organizations you'd like to |
| secure your next role, think about what is it that | | | | work with, the persons you know professionally, |
| you'd like to do next. What are the elements of your | | | | socially, through volunteer activities, etc. The key is |
| prior roles and responsibilities that you found exciting | | | | to establish a minimum number of contacts per week |
| and motivating? | | | | via your network. |
| Define and the goals and objectives you have for | | | | In your networking efforts, share your "elevator |
| your career and your life. For example, do you want | | | | speech". The goal is to make it easy for them to |
| to stay in the same industry? Would you like to stay | | | | help you. By identifying the organizations and types |
| in the same geography? Is this the time to continue | | | | of roles, you can work with these people to make |
| in a similar role or can your skills be transferred into a | | | | more connections and broaden your network further. |
| different role? There are many avenues that talented | | | | Data from a large outplacement firm suggested that |
| professionals can pursue, use this time to determine | | | | you are ~ five times more likely to get an |
| the path that you'd like to take for the next chapter | | | | opportunity through networking than via an |
| of your career. | | | | executive recruiter, and fourteen times more likely |
| Determining where you want to go next is incredibly | | | | than via the internet. That makes incredible sense |
| important and it is hard work. However, once you | | | | when you think about it as an example. You are the |
| have determined the path you'd like to pursue, this | | | | hiring manager for a new team. Your company has |
| guides the balance of your search efforts. You are | | | | gotten a large number of resumes from the web site |
| now focused for the subsequent steps in the | | | | and you get a call from a colleague regarding |
| process. Now you are empowered and begin to | | | | someone they know. Who would you contact first? |
| move forward with a purpose... | | | | Most leaders will leverage their network versus a |
| Step two is to refrain from making quick decisions. | | | | posting on the web site. |
| This is particularly true for blasting our resumes, and | | | | There are no absolutes in securing a new position; |
| calling your network and colleagues. Making those | | | | however, spending more time networking with a |
| contacts needs to be well thought out and | | | | purpose than "working" on the computer typically |
| rehearsed. . | | | | pays bigger dividends. |
| Third, take full advantage of any outplacement | | | | Seventh and Lastly, empower yourself to chase your |
| benefits that may be provided. | | | | dreams during this transition period. Pursue |
| Those people are professionals and usually provide a | | | | opportunities that take advantage of your strengths |
| solid pathway to follow as you transition into the | | | | and interests. Thus, once you begin your new role, |
| next opportunity. The staffs are usually helpful and | | | | you are on a path to even greater professional |
| they provide great tools and coaching. | | | | fulfillment! |
| Fourth, develop an action plan and timeframe for | | | | |