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Leave the Job and Network Your Skills by Sharlene Thomas You've heard it before: regardless of why you may be leaving your job, don't take the welcome mat with you. Your business network is not limited to those who can do you the immediate good, so it's best to leave a good impression. Building a network of people that will be a part of your professional life is vital to the success of your career, or, business, should you decide to try freelancing. The only way to make that happen is to do your best, at all times. What used to be considered a sign of a solid worker in the mid-20th century changed dramatically in the 80s and 90s -- staying with one employer throughout your career. As more and more workers moved up the corporate ladder by changing employers every three or four years, those who chose to remain in the first job were being viewed with suspicion. Did they have any ambition? How far had they risen in that job? Were they content to just get by to bring home a paycheck? Most often, the answer was as simple as waiting for the promised retirement at the end of the road. That dream was shattered in the 60s and 70s, as people discovered that they were being fired close to retirement so that employers could avoid payouts. Loyalty to one company became a thing of the past. Sometimes Greener Pastures Are Inedible The grass is always greener on the other side. So we have heard. But, did you know that a horse can starve to death in a grassy field? It's true. While other herbivores will eat almost anything (cow magnets offering the most interesting collections), horses are very selective about the grass and greens that they will eat. A horse pastured in a field of Kentucky Blue and sweet Clover has essentially entered Eutopia. Pasture that same horse in a field of unmowed Zoysia and it will ultimately starve to death surrounded by waves of green. As the workhorses of big business, employees will inevitably look for their own greener pastures as they plot their careers. More often than not, moving on is a good decision; but, sometimes, the dream job turns out to be, well, corporate Zoysia. You've sold the house, relocated the family and, after going through all the hassles that normally take place, you find the job wasn't exactly what you were expecting and (worst-case scenario) the promised salary is now being drastically reduced because of "unexpected" management problems. You are stuck in a new location, in a new home and heavier mortgage, with finances stretched to the limit. Do you stay or try to get your old job back? You may be able to get your old job back, if you left with a good impression and well wishes for a bright future. But, if you left the job with a take-this-job-and-shove-it attitude, in all likelihood, that door is closed to you. You are left with taking the reduction in pay while looking for another position. In addition, that budget stretched to the limit and family to support could mean you'll have to moonlight to cover expenses, severely limiting your availability for interviews. Keeping In Touch Through Friends With E-Mail Thanks to today's technology, it's very easy to keep in touch with former associates if you haven't totally burned your bridges. With your e-mail groups well-organized, you can contact as many or as few people that you want with just the click of a button. But, before you cripple your mouse with overuse, here are just a few things you need to keep in mind: company rules about personal e-mail your true relationship with those on your e-mail list the content of your e-mails More and more, employees are being held to strict guidelines for their e-mails while on the job and anything sent or received is going to be read by someone in administration. Whether or not you signed a non-compete agreement, you could very well be considered a threat to the business if you accepted a job with a competitor, regardless of corporate level. Any employee found communicating with you on a regular basis could find their own job in jeopardy. While you may very well have had any number of former employees on your group distribution list, that doesn't mean you can continue to include them after you have left the company. Under Murphy's Law, the very e-mail you don't want to get into the hands of someone at your old job will be the first thing they read the next time they check for messages. Do yourself a favor and delete anyone who is not a personal friend. Keeping in touch does not mean sending every new joke, story, poem, picture, or thought you have had in the last 24 hours. In some places, this could be considered spamming -- especially, if you haven't cleaned out your distribution list. Be smart. Unless the recipient falls in the category of personal friend, don't do it. An occasional message sharing good news and congratulating your friend on the good things you've heard about them is more than enough. Combine Great Advertising with Your Parting Gift An ideal way to be remembered is to create a job manual for the position that you are leaving so that the next person will not only know how to do the work but will continue to use your tried-and-true methods. Taking the time to re-create your day with how-to explanations for all procedures and software usage makes the transition smoother for everyone and you'll never be forgotten. Best of all, you have left a valuable tool as an example of your skills that can become great advertising within your network. Should something really terrific come up, the powers that be will be more than happy to recommend you for the position. The more specialized your field, the smaller the pool of professionals in it. If you're not personally known by everyone, you will be by your name and reputation. No one will ever fault you for accepting a higher-paying job or for trying your hand at freelancing. But, by leaving with a good impression, you will always be welcomed back when new positions become available. And, that's successful networking. Reprinted with permission Content copyright © 2007 by Sharlene Thomas. All rights reserved. This content was written by Sharlene Thomas. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission. Contact Sharlene Thomas for details. |