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Time to Look for a New Job
Your gut is telling you that something is not
right. Trust your gut. It is probably sending signals from your
subconscious that your job may be in jeopardy. Here are some red
flags to pay attention to.
1 Merger or
Acquisition
A merger or acquisition usually leads to
a restructuring of staff. It is rare that job loss is not a part
of the plan to introduce a new company into the mix. The CEO will
be on a housecleaning mission and will want to get rid of dead weight
or those that can’t accept change and stay stuck in the old
way of doing things. Are you resisting the changes? Have your performance
reviews been less than stellar?
2 The CEO Leaves
Whether the CEO is fired or he/she quits
– it usually indicates bigger problems. Company owners may
be disgruntled at quarterly results and looking to improve them
with a leadership change.
3 The CFO Leaves
You have to wonder if there are problems
with a company’s finances when the senior staff in your accounting
or finance department changes. If you have seen signs of shaky finances
(poor quarter figures, budget requests being denied, supervisors
asking for ways to cut corners, positions left vacant, etc.), heed
the red flags and start packing.
4 Your boss
doesn’t like you
There is a difference between a toxic boss
with a managerial style that creates enemies by terrorizing staff
and a boss that doesn’t like you in particular. Look at your
co-workers’ relationships with your boss. Do most of your
coworkers get along with your boss while you can’t seem to
find common ground? Does your boss have a good reputation in the
company? It may be that your boss simply doesn’t like you.
Personality conflicts happen. Sometimes they can be worked on and
other times they are a sign of bad fit. If you analyze the situation
and come to the conclusion that it is bad fit, move on before your
boss asks you to move on!
5 Company is
behind the times
If a company is resists keeping up with market
trends and technological advances, they won’t be competitive
in the long run. When your suggestions for improvements continually
fall on deaf ears and there are obvious signs the competition is
taking over your market share – heed the warning.
6 Company’s
stock price plummets
It is important to keep track of your company’s
stock performance regardless of whether you have stocks in the company
or not. Financial performance and stock holder confidence are important
signs of company stability and growth potential. Read the literature
your company writes for investors. It is biased, for sure, but it
can reveal weaknesses they are compensating for by smooth talk.
7 You don’t
get your bonus
This is not only hard on the pocket book
but hurts morale and risks retaining star staff. Human resources
staff will only make this move if pressured to do so by upper management.
Given the negative impact of this move, realize that there was probably
serious thought put into not paying out bonuses. Look at the company’s
track record of paying bonuses. Is this the first year they haven’t
been paid? Have bonuses not been paid in the past? What was the
impact of this?
8 You are passed
up for promotion.
As hard as it is to face, being passed up
for promotion is a clear sign that your performance is not meeting
expectations. If you’ve been passed up for promotion repeatedly
– time to cut your losses and look for work while you still
have a job.
Being alert to the danger signals is an important
step in positioning yourself for career success. Your eyes need
to be wide open when you assess your company and your standing within
that company.
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Do you have questions or comments regarding this article?
Email Joni Rose at
joni@careerminded.ca
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