|
TEN Critical Career Moments
All material on
yourofficecoach.com is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre.
All rights reserved.
May be reproduced for
non-commercial use with copyright and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com.
Commercial use
requires permission: email
mmcintyre@yourofficecoach.com
.
In every career, there are certain moments when you can either make an
outstanding impression or commit occupational suicide.
The key to success is recognizing when those moments occur and
responding appropriately.
Here are ten situations where many careers have been made or broken.
1.
THE SECOND
JOB INTERVIEW
If you have
been called back for a second interview, then you’re a serious candidate
for the job. However, you
may still have strong competition, so you need to separate yourself from
the pack. Too many
applicants get cocky and take a more relaxed approach to the second
interview, but that’s a big mistake.
For suggestions on avoiding this pitfall, see
Making the Most of Your
Second Interview.
2.
GETTING A NEW
BOSS
The most
hazardous time in anyone’s career is the arrival of a new manager.
All too often, people continue to operate based on the
expectations of the old boss, only to find that the new manager has
completely different ideas.
Or a completely different leadership style.
By the time you realize this, however, your career might be in
the ditch. You can find tips
on responding to a new boss at
Strategies for Surviving a New Boss.
3.
ASKING FOR A
RAISE
Some people are
so uncomfortable talking about money that they remain underpaid instead
of asking for a raise.
Others become entirely too demanding, expecting to be paid more than
their job or their experience is worth.
If you’re going to approach your manager about a pay increase,
you need to do it in the right way.
Learn how at How to Ask for
a Raise.
4.
HANDLING
CRITICISM
Since there are
no perfect people, you will undoubtedly receive negative feedback at
some point in your career.
Maybe a project didn’t go as planned, or you failed to meet an
objective. Perhaps a
colleague has issues with your job performance.
Or maybe you and your boss have different communication styles.
Your response to criticism will determine whether people see you
as mature and professional or defensive and thin-skinned.
Here are some thoughts about getting critical feedback:
How (and Why) You Should Ask for
Criticism.
5.
A BAD
PERFORMANCE REVIEW
Getting a bad
performance review can make you feel angry, unappreciated, defeated, and
hopeless. But it’s not the end of the world. The way you respond
to this appraisal can make all the difference in the next one.
Even if you believe that the review is inaccurate and that your boss is
completely wrong, you will benefit by reacting in a mature, adult
manner. You will find advice for handling this difficult situation
here: How to Respond
to a Bad Performance Review.
6.
REORGANIZATIONS
Reorganizations
represent a shift the distribution of power.
Sometimes you may have an opportunity to lobby (tactfully, of
course) for a change in your own circumstances.
But at other times, the best strategy is to simply lie low until
the turmoil subsides. Once
the dust settles, you need to evaluate the revised power map and
determine who is now in a position to affect your future.
If the reorg has brought management
changes, you may find these suggestions helpful:
How to Manage Your Boss.
And if you think your boss may have lost power, here are some
clues that the situation could be serious: Twenty
Signs That Your Boss Is on the Way Out.
7.
YOUR FIRST
MANAGEMENT JOB
Many new
managers fail to realize that management is completely different from
whatever they were doing before.
Regardless of whether you were a salesperson, a nurse, an
accountant, or an engineer, you are now in a totally different type of
job that requires some new skills.
So if you’re a new manager, don’t try to “wing it”.
Take the time to learn what management involves.
Here are some tips: Twelve
Tips for New Managers and The New
Manager's Coaching Guide.
8.
ENCOUNTERS
WITH TOP MANAGEMENT
A chance
encounter with a high-level executive can make or break a career.
Any time you are in the presence of upper management, you have an
opportunity to create a lasting impression – and you want that
impression to be positive!
When future opportunities arise, you would like that executive to
immediately think of you.
Not sure how to make that happen?
Then study these suggestions:
How to Impress
High-level Managers.
9.
THE OFFICE
PARTY
Office parties represent both opportunity and risk. On the one
hand, you can develop better relationships with your colleagues and get
to know people that you would never meet otherwise. Some people
use parties for serious strategic networking. At the same time,
however, uninhibited party behavior can destroy your career. To be
smart about office social gatherings, check out
The Office Party: Career-Builder or
Career-Killer?
10.
MERGERS &
ACQUISITIONS
If your company
is acquired or your organization is merged with another, you have to
realize that all bets are off.
There are going to be management changes, culture changes, and
changes in expectations, so you need to be open to new ways of doing
things. If you remain wedded
to the past, you may just kill your career.
To better understand how you tend to react to change, check out
this Quick Quiz: What Is Your "Change
Personality"?
You may also be interested in these topics .
. .
Six
Secrets of Politically Savvy People
Nine Ways
to Kill Your Chances of Promotion
Six Signs that You May Be Hard to
Manage
How to Prepare
for Your Performance Review
What Should
You Look for in a Mentor?
Learn More About Our
Career Services!
-
Phone Coaching
-
Work Style Assessments
-
Job Search Assistance
-
Resume Review
Check out the
Career
Services section for
more information.
All
material on yourofficecoach.com
is copyrighted to Marie G. McIntyre.
All rights reserved.
May
be reproduced for non-commercial use with copyright and attribution to
www.yourofficecoach.com.
Commercial use requires permission: email
mmcintyre@yourofficecoach.com .
|
