Chapter 12
Staying Hirable

So you have a good job. You’ve gone through the hunting and the résumés and the interviews and the references and finally, finally, you’ve landed the job you want at a company you’ve always wanted to work for. You can finally relax and forget about the tiring job search.

Sure, put the job search out of your head for a few weeks, maybe a month. Put yourself 110 percent into starting out on the good foot and making a splash at your new gig. And then put your job hunting hat back on. Preparing for the next job is what this chapter is about.

“But I love my new job!” I hear you say. “I just went through this book about getting hired, and now you tell me to plan for my next job?” Indeed I am.

Unless you’re nearing retirement, you’ll be changing employers in the future. No matter how much you love your new job, can you actually see yourself staying at the same company for the rest of your working life? Even if you can imagine such a future, it’s not entirely in your control.

You can get the rug pulled out from you in a number of ways, none of which you can control. Consider this short list of scenarios that can change your view of your job, if not have you on the street against your will:

• Your boss decides that all programming is going to be done in Java from now on, and you’d rather have a tooth pulled than write Java.

• The company outsources the work your department is doing.

• Your boss is replaced by someone you can’t stand.

• A new vice president of IT comes in and decides to “clean house,” starting with your department.

• The company decides to move to new headquarters that make your commute unbearable, or even to another state.

• Someone has it in for you and manages to get you fired for some petty offense, or your performance isn’t what you thought it was and you’re let go.

• A massive recession spurred by the collapse of the banking and automotive industries also causes your company’s sales to drop significantly, and you get caught in across-the-board layoffs.

Your need for another job is a “when,” not an “if.” And since you know that you’re going to need another job in the future, you might as well get started on it right now.

Internalize the need to take care of your career, your future jobs, and yourself. It’s your responsibility, and no one else’s. Please don’t fall into the trap of thinking that your employer will take care of your career planning or that your “career path” at work is necessarily what’s best for you. Many organizations have career advancement programs, where employees can work to make a career path for their future advancement, and if they do, that’s great. However, consider that the company will be aiming your career advancement in a way that ultimately benefits the company best. That may or may not be what’s best for you and your career.

No matter what your current job is, you’re working for yourself. Consider yourself as working for You And Your Family, Inc., and you’re a contractor to whomever your current employer is.

The three steps to keeping yourself hirable are these: improve yourself, improve your network, and improve your brand.