home »

dear headhunter columns »

career insider columns »

syndicated newspapers »

internet/on-line readership »

the buzz about George »

biography/references »

order advice/order book »

send email »

career insider

CAREER ROAD SIGNS II

NO U-TURN
You have accepted a new job. Now comes the truly hard part, giving your two-weeks notice to your boss. It’s rarely easy to quit without some feelings of disloyalty or uneasiness. Complications can set in when you receive a counter-offer to stay. This counter-offer may consist of more money or a new job title.

TIP: Obey this sign. Making a career U-turn can be deadly. Do not accept a counter-offer. There are many reasons that validate this advice. Most recruiters will tell you that 90 percent of employees who accept a counter-offer will be gone, voluntarily or involuntarily, within 18 months. You must remember that the reasons you started to look elsewhere will not change. Is the extra money just your net pay raise given early? If the reason was the company culture or dislike of your boss, more money will not fix it. The symptoms will reappear. The biggest negative is that your loyalty will always be in question. When cut backs are needed, you will be on top of the expendable list.

CONSTRUCTION ZONE AHEAD
This warning road sign usually states that speeding fines are doubled for violations in the construction zone. If your company is rapidly expanding by building new stores or outlets, rather than increasing sales at existing locations, this sign applies especially to you!

TIP: During a corporate expansion frenzy is the opportune time to take on more responsibility and become a leader, without breaking the speed limit. Be cautious about the possibility of sideswiping a colleague or running over your boss. This warning sign should also state: rewards are doubled for accomplishments achieved while in the construction zone.

ONE-WAY / DO NOT ENTER
Ignoring this sign can lead to deadly consequences. Unless you are fantastically lucky, sooner or later, you will have a head-on collision. Every company has its own corporate policy. Some say theirs is loose, with an open-door policy. Some have strict protocol on how to handle problems. It is vital to learn and use the proven, expected one-way your company solves problems.

TIP: Most drivers going the wrong way do so unknowingly. They misinterpret the intersection or freeway on-ramp. I don’t think anyone would drive the wrong way intentionally, so, when you find yourself in a problem situation, be alert to making a safe decision. Going over your boss’s head or ignoring company policy can lead to a career head-on crash.

CHAINS REQUIRED
We have all seen the chains-required sign. Some of us carry chains when planning a mountain trip. Some will ignore the possibility of bad weather delays. When climbing the corporate mountain, there will be a certain altitude level that can only be reached with chains.

[QUICK TIP] Your corporate chains can be a mentor or a results-driven relationship with a senior executive. Chains can be additional education because some companies have an invisible roadblock that says no one may enter this level without a post-graduate degree. Becoming the company’s go-to problem-solver creates chains.

PLEASE NOTE: emails received become the property of "Dear Headhunter" and may be published unless otherwise requested. Questions may be edited for content and length. All questions will be reviewed, some without a reply.

George Gurney has been a leader in the employment industry since 1976. He founded an executive search firm that conducts domestic and international assignments.  He has won numerous awards for recruiting excellence.  He has been a guest speaker at national conventions and seminars.