Lights...Camera...Job change!

One of the defining characteristics of the American economy is the quest for profits. Most of us
knows what that really means.  However, let's look at this from a different perspective by first
looking at the unemployment numbers for February 2009.

• Large businesses (500 or more employees) saw unemployment decline by 121,000.
• Medium businesses (50 to 499 employees) saw unemployment decline by 314,000.
• Small businesses (less than 50 employees) saw unemployment decline by 262,000.

These numbers indicate greater instability in medium to small companies.  Now, consider the fact
that many of these companies are private and owned by Venture Capitalists and investors.  The
ownership of one of these companies has a huge impact on every employee's career. 

Have you ever worked for a small or medium sized company that was owned by VCs.  They held a contract
to fund the company for 2-3 years with the guarantee of a certain return on investment.  At the end
of the contract, they have the option to keep on supporting the company or sell it off to someone else.
If the VCs aren't getting what they feel they should, they often sell the company, sparking a wave of
cost saving activities for the new owner.  I don't have to tell you what this implies.  Layoffs.

Now as this trend continues to grow, we begin to see the shaping of a new mobile workforce.  New owners
take over a company, reduce headcount, work the business for a few years and then sell it.  During this
time, the workforce can grow or reduce further.  In either case, the labor force fluctuations are in
response to the need for fast returns.

So what does this mean to you?  It means that you can expect to have more jobs in your career.  This
will eventually create new expectations for employees.  Employment will begin to be seen as temporary.
Durations will last only a few years and then you'll move on to the next project.  It will be just like
a movie set.  The crew comes in to setup the scenes.  Then, the big actors comes and do their thing, leaving
the cleanup to the crew.  Once they are done, they move on to the next movie.

While planning for a career never has been an easy task, it will certainly get more difficult.  You'll need to
consider the following ideas to maintain a sufficient level of success.

Transferable skills.  You'll need to ensure you are building skills that will elevate you in the next job
change.  Parallel moves are good but you'll want to be build skills that will put you in the driver's seat of
the negotiation.  Moving up the ladder can only be accomplished by jumping companies.

 Networking.  We've always known this was important.  Well, if this isn't on the top of your list for new
skills to develop, you better put it there now.  Ivy League graduates have always been good at this and use
it often to create more success for themselves.  It's the best way to plan that next jump (or any jump).

Planning.  If you've never considered building a career plan, the future will give you the opportunity to
build one.  Once you get into a company, start tapping your network to know what's available.  You don't have
to jump right away but you'll want to have a few landing spots identified, especially if you're tossed out of
the plane instead of jumping.

One last tip...when you interviewing for that next job, ask the company how they are funded and what that contract
looks like.  Is it up in one or two years?  This can give you an idea of when change will come.  If they are
a public company, then you can just review their performance by searching sites on the web.

Cut....that's a rap!