With Greece in economic crisis, poor GDP figures in Germany and the rest of Europe still in the midst of an economic slump, the spectre of a double dip recession looms large. And whilst the most recent unemployment figures are down, the change is small and many employees, hopeful at the start of 2010, will once again be evaluating the security of their role.
For those executives who are feeling unsure, careers site TheLadders.co.ukhas put together a checklist highlighting the telltale warning signs that your job is at risk and helps employees to protect their positions in periods of corporate cut-backs.
TheLadders.co.uk checklist for job security:
WARNING SIGN: You're not invited: You are closed out of staff meetings or omitted from mass distribution meeting requests and e-mails.
• Best Defense: BE VISIBLE: An omission can be an honest mistake or a warning sign; address it immediately. Make sure your boss and colleagues know the value you bring to the team.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT HIDE: There is a temptation to lay low until the storm passes; that is a mistake. If you are dispensable at a meeting, you are even more dispensable as a line item on a budget.
WARNING SIGN: Your job description shrinks: Your workload is diminishing; key tasks are being transitioned to other employees.
• Best Defense: STEP UP YOUR GAME: Be flexible. Step into any job and help the company move forward. Attend voluntary meetings and make your presence felt.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT SIT ON THE SIDELINES: If your responsibilities seem to be waning, don’t be idle until you get new ones; this is a time to be proactive.
WARNING SIGN: You can't get anything done: Planned projects are put on hold; your priorities don't match up with the company's goals.
• Best Defense: DO SOMETHING: Check in with your boss; keep the lines of communication open. If your project is put on hold, find a new one. Show that you are willing to adapt and accept new responsibilities.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT WAIT: Your project may never get back on track; digging in and waiting for a brighter day isn't an option.
WARNING SIGN: You have a new boss: Your company brought in a new boss for your department as part of a merger or reorganisation.
• Best Defense: BE SUPPORTIVE: A new boss can be a sign of expansion or contraction, depending upon the premise on which they are retained. The best leaders cannot function effectively without a strong supporting cast. Become vital to your new boss' success and you become essential.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT PLAY POLITICS: Entrenched, long-time employees often fall victim to office politics. Don't be a roadblock to progress. You cannot stage a successful coup in the current environment.
WARNING SIGN: Your company is not doing well financially: Sales projections, earnings and other indicators of financial strength are all in the red.
• Best Defense: BE READY FOR ANYTHING: Despite best efforts, you might not be able to avoid a mass layoff. Be ready to take action: get your resume ready; update your network; stay involved in professional organisations; and take the pulse of the job market in your industry.
• What Not To Do: DO NOT BURY YOUR HEAD IN THE SAND: Read the writing on the wall and heed the counsel of trusted individuals who have more visibility than you do. Sometimes, job hunts can take from three months to a year; be prepared for this eventuality before it is a reality.
Derek Pilcher from executive careers site TheLadders.co.uk says, “Employees need to constantly be on alert in these uncertain times. Be prepared at work to put that little bit extra in and voluntarily take on a little more responsibility so that you are indispensable. Keep networking in your businesses’ industry and don’t be tempted to run away and hide from the current climate – embrace it and you will come out fighting on the other side.”
What do you think makes an employee indispensable to a company?
Monday, 22 February 2010
Monday, 15 February 2010
The F-Word means You're Fired!
Last week an NHS executive being sacked for swearing at work was a warning to all employees that the overuse of expletives can have a serious impact on your career. The dismissal of Gary Walker - the head of the hospitals trust in Lincolnshire – for coarse language reinforces the importance of adhering to office etiquette.
Swearing is the most unacceptable office faux pas according to report by TheLadders.co.uk. It shows that one in ten UK bosses has fired an employee for swearing at work; whilst 17% have reprimanded staff for bad manners such as lunchtime drinking, personal calls and gossiping.
The poll of the UK’s senior executives by the management careers site reveals that 47% of bosses would fire for bad language whilst 96% of senior managers said that they would find a foul mouthed colleague unacceptable to work alongside in the office.
Derek Pilcher of TheLadders.co.uk says: “Celebrities like Gordon Ramsay have glamorised swearing – particularly in the workplace. Some may argue that swearing eases stress at work and is a way of bonding with fellow colleagues. But employees beware, in every office there exists an invisible line between professional and unprofessional behaviour and the overuse of the F word crosses the line.”
TheLadders.co.uk report looked at how seriously senior managers viewed manners and office etiquette. 97% of respondents believed that good office etiquette was important whilst 57% said that they would fire an employee for bad manners. Seventy six per cent have given an official warning for etiquette offences such as a messy desk, flossing teeth or picking noses, bad breath or wearing trainers.
Do you think swearing has a place in the office?
Swearing is the most unacceptable office faux pas according to report by TheLadders.co.uk. It shows that one in ten UK bosses has fired an employee for swearing at work; whilst 17% have reprimanded staff for bad manners such as lunchtime drinking, personal calls and gossiping.
The poll of the UK’s senior executives by the management careers site reveals that 47% of bosses would fire for bad language whilst 96% of senior managers said that they would find a foul mouthed colleague unacceptable to work alongside in the office.
Derek Pilcher of TheLadders.co.uk says: “Celebrities like Gordon Ramsay have glamorised swearing – particularly in the workplace. Some may argue that swearing eases stress at work and is a way of bonding with fellow colleagues. But employees beware, in every office there exists an invisible line between professional and unprofessional behaviour and the overuse of the F word crosses the line.”
TheLadders.co.uk report looked at how seriously senior managers viewed manners and office etiquette. 97% of respondents believed that good office etiquette was important whilst 57% said that they would fire an employee for bad manners. Seventy six per cent have given an official warning for etiquette offences such as a messy desk, flossing teeth or picking noses, bad breath or wearing trainers.
Do you think swearing has a place in the office?
Sunday, 7 February 2010
A Corporate Affair of The Heart
What to do when you fall for a co-worker
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching many people will be thinking about revealing their feelings to a secret crush. But what happens when Cupid’s arrow is directed at a workplace colleague?
According to a recent study by
executive career site TheLadders.co.uk, love is definitely in the air when it comes to the office after they found that 68% of bosses have harbored a crush on an employee. Although most refrain from acting on their feelings – just 17% admitted to having had a relationship with a co-worker.
Derek Pilcher from TheLadders.co.uk says that with the amount of time we spend at work it’s not surprising that romances blossom in the office. “Dating a colleague or the boss can cause all sorts of problems. It’s a career minefield for both parties and they should proceed with caution,” says Pilcher.
So what should you do when you realise you’d like to share more than the annual tax figures with Suzy from Accounts? The Ladders has put together some advice for executives that think they have found ‘the one’ at work:
1. Think carefully and move slowly - So you think you’ve fallen for a co-worker. Go slowly and think carefully. Is it worth the risk? Starting a relationship with someone you work with has implications.
2. The distance rule - If you have found ‘the one’ at work, then be prepared to be flexible. If your boss feels that a transfer or move to another department is appropriate, don’t be surprised or offended. This may not only help your work life but improve the relationship.
3. Be Professional - Most bosses will be pretty tolerant of office relationships as long as the ‘personal bits’ are kept away from the professional environment so that they do not distract from the work. It’s not professional to be seen kissing in the stationary cupboard or hurling coffee cups at each other! Keep your home life and work life separate.
4. Keep your eye on the job – Instead of making eyes at your new love across the office, keep your mind on your job. Your boss will not be impressed if you’re not meeting your deadlines and targets. Do your job as well or better than you did before.
6. Be discreet – Don’t make personal arrangements in front of the boss but do let them see you working well together as part of a team. Remain two separate people at work and above all don’t ever practice favouritism.
7. Never gossip – A huge part of office communication and team bonding is sharing your life experiences with your team. However discussing your partner’s sexual prowess with your colleagues is a bad idea!
8. If things turn sour - If your office relationship ends, the boss does not want to witness you bad-mouthing another employee, it will not only damage their reputation but your own as well. Resist revenge and remain polite and civil with your ex.
Have you had a relationship with a co-worker? Do you think office romances are acceptable or a no-go zone? Feel free to comment this post.
With Valentine’s Day fast approaching many people will be thinking about revealing their feelings to a secret crush. But what happens when Cupid’s arrow is directed at a workplace colleague?
According to a recent study by
executive career site TheLadders.co.uk, love is definitely in the air when it comes to the office after they found that 68% of bosses have harbored a crush on an employee. Although most refrain from acting on their feelings – just 17% admitted to having had a relationship with a co-worker.
Derek Pilcher from TheLadders.co.uk says that with the amount of time we spend at work it’s not surprising that romances blossom in the office. “Dating a colleague or the boss can cause all sorts of problems. It’s a career minefield for both parties and they should proceed with caution,” says Pilcher.
So what should you do when you realise you’d like to share more than the annual tax figures with Suzy from Accounts? The Ladders has put together some advice for executives that think they have found ‘the one’ at work:
1. Think carefully and move slowly - So you think you’ve fallen for a co-worker. Go slowly and think carefully. Is it worth the risk? Starting a relationship with someone you work with has implications.
2. The distance rule - If you have found ‘the one’ at work, then be prepared to be flexible. If your boss feels that a transfer or move to another department is appropriate, don’t be surprised or offended. This may not only help your work life but improve the relationship.
3. Be Professional - Most bosses will be pretty tolerant of office relationships as long as the ‘personal bits’ are kept away from the professional environment so that they do not distract from the work. It’s not professional to be seen kissing in the stationary cupboard or hurling coffee cups at each other! Keep your home life and work life separate.
4. Keep your eye on the job – Instead of making eyes at your new love across the office, keep your mind on your job. Your boss will not be impressed if you’re not meeting your deadlines and targets. Do your job as well or better than you did before.
6. Be discreet – Don’t make personal arrangements in front of the boss but do let them see you working well together as part of a team. Remain two separate people at work and above all don’t ever practice favouritism.
7. Never gossip – A huge part of office communication and team bonding is sharing your life experiences with your team. However discussing your partner’s sexual prowess with your colleagues is a bad idea!
8. If things turn sour - If your office relationship ends, the boss does not want to witness you bad-mouthing another employee, it will not only damage their reputation but your own as well. Resist revenge and remain polite and civil with your ex.
Have you had a relationship with a co-worker? Do you think office romances are acceptable or a no-go zone? Feel free to comment this post.
Monday, 1 February 2010
Is 2010 the year to review your career prospects?
Last week it was reported that the UK is (if only marginally) officially out of the recession. Although the news may have received a lukewarm response across the country, if the positive figures continue it will boost confidence and spur the job market into action.
However for better or worse things aren’t as simple as they were pre-recession. Businesses have learned some very valuable lessons and caution will sit alongside increasing confidence in the market, particularly when it comes to hiring. Companies will search harder for long-term, reliable and skilled employees and therefore anyone job hunting will need a 'proven' job seeking strategy.’
To help those seeking new management and executive jobs , TheLadders.co.uk has put together six components for a successful job search. Compiled from studies and reviews from thousands of employers, these tips aim to guide and direct executives to the best position and the best roles.
1. Starting your job search
Before launching into a new chapter of your career, think about what you want to accomplish from your next role and what changes you’re willing to make to achieve those goals.
2. Work/life balance
When you are at the executive level you probably have a lot of people depending on your success including an abundance of financial and emotional considerations putting pressure on the choices you make. It’s important to balance your job hunt with your personal/family needs.
3. CV
Tune your CV to make it the best, most concise, most focused, most searchable document you can make it. For expert advice try an executive CV service or go to the CV best-practice section of the Career Advice section at TheLadders.co.uk.
4. Personal Branding
From the way you come across to the recruiters, hiring managers and networking connections you meet along the way your personal brand is just as important as the CV. Make sure you finely tune what your unique selling points are and ensure you present yourself appropriately for the role.
5. Networking
Executive networking tools vary from job fairs, to contacts acquired on the job to the latest social networking sites – all are important but you must understand when and how to use them.
6. Interviewing
The final step and the chance to ‘seal the deal’ the interviewing process can also be a very daunting experience. It’s essential you have all the tools you need to give yourself the best opportunity – be prepared, be comfortable within yourself make careful note of your dress and posture, have your ‘elevator pitch’ memorised – a 45 sec summary of who you are, and make sure you have some questions prepared
These tips are taken from ‘Your Executive Job Search – A step-by-step guide to success’ a new e-book launched by TheLadders.co.uk. Further career advice can be found at www.theladders.co.uk/careerservices
What do you think is important in a job hunt? Give us your hints, tips and suggestions.
However for better or worse things aren’t as simple as they were pre-recession. Businesses have learned some very valuable lessons and caution will sit alongside increasing confidence in the market, particularly when it comes to hiring. Companies will search harder for long-term, reliable and skilled employees and therefore anyone job hunting will need a 'proven' job seeking strategy.’
To help those seeking new management and executive jobs , TheLadders.co.uk has put together six components for a successful job search. Compiled from studies and reviews from thousands of employers, these tips aim to guide and direct executives to the best position and the best roles.
1. Starting your job search
Before launching into a new chapter of your career, think about what you want to accomplish from your next role and what changes you’re willing to make to achieve those goals.
2. Work/life balance
When you are at the executive level you probably have a lot of people depending on your success including an abundance of financial and emotional considerations putting pressure on the choices you make. It’s important to balance your job hunt with your personal/family needs.
3. CV
Tune your CV to make it the best, most concise, most focused, most searchable document you can make it. For expert advice try an executive CV service or go to the CV best-practice section of the Career Advice section at TheLadders.co.uk.
4. Personal Branding
From the way you come across to the recruiters, hiring managers and networking connections you meet along the way your personal brand is just as important as the CV. Make sure you finely tune what your unique selling points are and ensure you present yourself appropriately for the role.
5. Networking
Executive networking tools vary from job fairs, to contacts acquired on the job to the latest social networking sites – all are important but you must understand when and how to use them.
6. Interviewing
The final step and the chance to ‘seal the deal’ the interviewing process can also be a very daunting experience. It’s essential you have all the tools you need to give yourself the best opportunity – be prepared, be comfortable within yourself make careful note of your dress and posture, have your ‘elevator pitch’ memorised – a 45 sec summary of who you are, and make sure you have some questions prepared
These tips are taken from ‘Your Executive Job Search – A step-by-step guide to success’ a new e-book launched by TheLadders.co.uk. Further career advice can be found at www.theladders.co.uk/careerservices
What do you think is important in a job hunt? Give us your hints, tips and suggestions.
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