career search

Movin’ On

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An excerpt from CFO.com’s Editor Letter of September 27 says …

<< The latest CFO/Duke University Business Outlook Survey found CFOs pessimistic about the economy and reigning in spending and hiring. But a Robert Half survey suggests that might not apply to their own departments: finance hires are predicted to rise.>>

In an attempt to find more information on the CFO.com site about this, I stumbled across Julia Homer’s article, “The Three–Year Itch.” It says in part,

<<CFOs (and their bosses) are vacating their offices at an alarming clip. Various surveys estimate the average tenure of a CFO at anywhere from four and a half years to a mere 17 months.>>

This kind of trending, coming directly from CFO.com, should serve as a wake–up call to all senior finance executives. It is not the “good–old days” anymore where company loyalty kept you there for most of your career. In all likelihood you will be moving out of your current position, and it may be sooner than you thought.

The question becomes, will you have to hunt for your next position or will you be found as the ideal candidate? 

Fireproof Your Career

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Anne Baber, of “Make Your Contacts Count” fame, joined us in the CFO–Career–Forum on Tuesday to discuss strategies for creating a personal protection plan for your career … i.e., a strategic business plan for your career.

She had so much great information I actually took five pages of notes!

Her basic premise is, “be eager to stay and prepared to go.” The bottom line is that each individual is responsible for his or her own career. Anne refers to this as being “the champion of your own career.” I love that visual. It is not the responsibility of your boss, your company, or anyone else … the responsibility for your career lies with you. As a side note, Cliff Hakim authored a great book around this very topic called, “We Are All Self–Employed.” It’s a great read for anyone who is in the workforce.

One of the key strategies she mentioned was “liberate your mind.” In other words, be open to who you are outside of what you do. She noted an interesting statistic … the degree to which you identify with your company (i.e., introduce yourself as the CFO of ABC Company) is a strong indicator of the joy you get from your association with the company.

For example, when you introduce yourself is it as, Joe Smith, CFO of ABC Company? Or, do you lead with one unique and interesting statement about you that is memorable and promotes a continuing dialogue?

Do you have your own identity or is your identity woven into the company who provides your paycheck? If it is the latter, how long are you hoping that identity will last?

What’s Your Score?

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If you read my column regularly, you know I talk frequently about Google and your online identity. In today’s PhillyBurbs.com, Lou Sessinger discusses … guess what … the importance of a web presence in relation to a job search.

Google your name and then jump to the Career Distinction blog to use the GQ calculator to obtain your Google rating. And then evaluate your digital footprint. Are you digitally distinct? Digitally dabbling? Or, are you a digital dinosaur on the verge of extinction?

What is the relevance quotient? What message are you sending about yourself, and is it the message you want people to receive?