Career Advice

Former recruitment agency experts answer employment questions, candidly suggesting how to negotiate your salary, find a really good job, handle phone interviews, and more.

Sage advice like this is priceless.

Working for a sinking ship? Is it time to jump overboard? Is it time for a career change?

Is your employer headed down the wrong path? Is your company ripe for scandal? Be proactive with your career by keeping on top of your company’s financial health. Learn how to read the signs of trouble and know when it might be time to revise your resume and start testing the job market.

Potential Danger Signs:
- More and more vendors are calling and asking 'where’s my money?' Your company may be cash poor and is having touble paying its bills.
- Budgets are slashed abruptly. The company is desperate for cash. Layoffs might be the next step.
- Veteran employees are encouraged to take early retirement while new hiring is frozen.

It’s not always obvious when your company is in a downward spiral. In fact, the bigger the company, the harder it is to see the signs. Pay attention to what financial experts are saying. Study industry trends. Read company press releases. Follow the stock price and watch for sudden declines. Also search for news about your company written by outsiders. Don’t assume that your executives are being up front with employees. The press can dig up dirt on a company long before executives are forced to admit wrongdoing.

Think Like a Shareholder:
Publicly traded companies are required by law to inform shareholders of their financial health. Get a copy of the latest financial statement and annual report and study the financials. Go back a couple of years to see the trends

Time for a career change? Your Next Job:
If you do choose to jump ship make sure you don't get burned again at your new company. You should think of choosing a potential employer the same way you’d decide where to invest money. Again research the the company's financials. If it’s a start-up company, look at the business plan - is it sound? Determine your risk tolerance.

Your Retirement Money:
How much of your retirement money is invested in company stock? Beware of having too much company stock in your retirement plan in case the company stock takes a dive or the company  fails. Don't put all your eggs in one basket - diversify your portfolio.

Keep your head out of the sand. Your employer’s financial health is import to your career health. Stay alert to what’s happening at your company so you have a better chance of avoiding disaster.