If 2009 was a tough year for many businesses, it was also a tough year for many employees. In some industries, job cuts left many redundant. At every organizational level, the reality was that your position may be the next in jeopardy. The article (November 6) in the Australian Financiel Review (AFR) "Bosses beware, a talent storm is brewing" reminded employers of the importance of engaging employees as the economy tentatively improves in 2010.
Many of you accepted changes to job accountabilities, working hours and remuneration during the global financial crisis (GFC) but are now feeling disgruntled. Some of you, in spite of the fact that you know your company values your abilities, are itching to leave, just waiting for the employment market to take off again. For some, the past year has been a positive experience and now you want to explore new, more meaningful careers or really embrace better work/life balance.
The New Year marks a turning point and many of you are determined to re-gain control of your professional destiny. Some reflection and planning can turn the job you now possess, or any job you may pursue in the future, into your ideal job.
1. Start with a firm foundation
Write out a five-sentence description of exactly what your ideal or dream job would consist of — salary, perks, focus, location, etc. Be precise. Be realistic. It is no good just thinking about this; you actually have to clarify your thoughts by writing them down.
When you think "ideal" make sure that the "dream" consists of all the elements of life that are important to you, such as career growth, family and community. If you think only about the company and position and not the fact that the job means that you may be on the road 70% to 80% of the time, this ideal job may quickly turn into a nightmare because of how it affects the totality of your life. Make sure you take all the elements into account.
2. Get a grip on the here and now
Decide how close your current job comes to the description of your ideal job. Did something change about your job in 2009 that you have found unsettling? Is it an issue that can be re-negotiated now? When you take your whole life into account, you may be surprised to find that your current job comes closer to the ideal than you think.
If you determine that your dream job isn't to be found in another organization but in the organization you already work for, you have a couple of options. First is the concept of "job shaping." In today's work environment, where talented workers are still at a premium, employers are often willing to go to great lengths to retain their best employees. Current research on this can be found in the excellent book The Price of Loyalty, by Reichheld and Teal. It presents the staggering financial costs involved in replacing mid- to high-level employees.
You can take advantage of this by "shaping" your job into its ideal form. Work with your manager to incorporate more of the elements that would fulfill you and allow you to make a greater contribution while minimizing or eliminating the aspects of your job that you hate. Or, if you love the organization but increasingly find your interests lying in another area of the company, you can make a lateral move. For example, moving from public relations to marketing, or from the sales team to the Internet team. This is a great way to gain more skills, while staying at a place you love.
You might love every aspect of your job now but find that it consumes you, offering you no balance in your life. Several economists have noted that the 1990s was the decade where employees went from quantity of salary (the mantra of the '80s) to quality of life. It was the decade of job sharing, flexible hours, and tele-commuting. Here in the 21st century, most employers are more attentive to work/life balance and expect that employees will want more flexibility in their jobs to achieve it. You can use this to your advantage. If you love your job but can't remember the last time you kissed your kids before bedtime, you might want to talk to your employer about how to achieve greater balance. Perhaps you could work from home one or two days a week; start earlier and finish earlier; work four long days, with one day off; the possibilities are endless.
After analyzing your current industry, company, and position, you might still think it is time to go, that the grass really is greener elsewhere. But how can you be sure? Pilzer, author of The Fountain of Wealth, gave us one answer. He calls it "the 50 percent rule." When you join a new company or start a new business, quite often 95% of your output is learning, and 5% of your output is doing things you already know how to do well. After a few months or years, it may be that 60% of your time is spent learning and 40% is still spent doing things you know how to do well. As soon as those lines cross, where 51%, 60%, or, probably, as most people, 95% of your time is spent doing things you already know well, it's time to move. In an economy that demands growth and contribution, you can't afford to let your skills atrophy — regardless of the size of your package.
There have never been more resources for jumping ship, not just to a new job, but to your ideal job. Since statistics show that 75% of positions are obtained by networking (and that statistic is probably even higher when you are going for a job that fits you uniquely), this is where you want to start. The Web gives you even further access to a wide variety of networking resources: associations in your chosen profession, your university alumni database, social media and community and volunteer organizations whose members include many of the most successful leaders in your community; the list goes on and on.
3. Consider alternatives
You might decide that your ideal is to be your own boss and eliminate all the corporate politics. Or, you may decide that your dream is unique and there is no position available that will fit it. In that case, you might be called to join the entrepreneurial world and do what entrepreneurs do best, create a unique opportunity. Investigate it seriously. It is a unique calling, but it may be the only one that fulfills your dream.
3. Be authentic
Like what you like. Don't succumb to the pressure of going for a career opportunity that looks good or that everyone else expects you to go for but that doesn't fit your ideal. Big money, big prestige, and a big lifestyle do not have to be the trademarks of success. Remember that you are unique and that you need to live with you 24 hours a day. Only you can define your dream job.
