Career Advice: One step ahead of the falling dominoes

When you get close to a quarter century with the same company you reflect back on your career. I made that mistake the other day. I realized the four positions I had, no longer exist. The image was sobering. All I have done is kept one step ahead of the falling dominoes. That is the way it goes today. If you think the grass is greener on the other side. During my tenure with my company, I had two opportunities to move to another company. I have learned both those jobs have also been abolished. The dominoes fall around me. The analogy of falling dominoes is much closer to the truth than you may believe. Mt company, other companies do not see departments, business groups, regional offices as individuals. They are faceless, when the positions are abolished, they are all abolished at once just like the dominoes toppling each other, in a stampede.

My wife has unfortunately been in the path of the falling dominoes three times. She was an excellent worker, well educated but ended up in departments which were eventually dismantled. Her reviews were excellent. Once the dominoes fell, there was no room for her within the company. Despite her excellent work ethic, other departments were protecting their domino.

You would think my story is one of survival. It is, in fact part survival, part thriving. You do need both. I know quite a few people, friends and family who got caught in the falling dominoes. These are good people who just could not get out of the way of the falling dominoes. I now feel compelled to provide some career advice:

1) Move on..... You can bet the job you have now will not exist in a few years, it will be reorganized, restructured, abolished...when? I have no idea. But it will one day be in the path of the falling dominoes. You best defense is to continually renew yourself. Be prepared to accept another position..even it is a "lateral" promotion.

2) Look for the signs and react........ New technologies often lead to falling dominoes. Yeah, computers were going to make our jobs easier..no, it just meant you no longer needed a typist. Companies no longer need regional outposts. If you think you could work in a satellite office like the Midwest, forget it. Be ready to move your office home or yourself to the head office. Another sign is any change in top management. If you disagree with the new rules, start planning to leave, now.

3) If you are caught in the falling dominoes, take my advice, it is not personal. You were at the wrong place at the wrong time. You need that attitude when you begin looking for another job. After all, the reason you had your job in the first place is because other dominos fell. Accept it as a company renewing itself.

4) Here is the good news, you have more time than you think. Pay attention. Whenever companies begin to lean one way, rule of thumb, it takes one to three years to act. You are in fact more nimble than the organization. So you do have plenty of time to "move on", distinguish yourself. You have to do it because once those dominos fall they fall quickly and without regard to who may be in the path. If you decide not to do anything, and many people do

The answer is not always to move with a company. If I had done that, I would have been twice unemployed. Always be prepared to learn and accept anything new within your company

So, I will celebrate a quarter century with the same company, even though the company has had five different names. Yes, my company renews itself constantly.