Career Comeback

Its always a good idea to look at the signs, if any, and proactively work to not fall into any of the traps listed below (other than the "significant salary" item;-).
If your boss or mentor was no good to start with, then him or her losing power is good unless you are significantly tied in. Hopefully, you have an independent career as well as your boss relationship.
Sometimes going to a remote site is good, as long as you don't lose touch with the main office or stay away forever.
Reassignment to a low profile project can be an opportunity to hit one out of the park and regain your standing.
Also, I've met people who have passed on a relocation, but few who don't accept a new assignment.


Signs That Your Career Is in Trouble... or That You Are About to Get the Boot
go to: msn.careerbuilder.com
Excerpted from "Career Comeback" By Bradley G. Richardson

Just because I'm paranoid doesn't mean that they aren't out to get me.
- Woody Allen

I want to be very clear about one thing. These are not absolute signs of a professional apocalypse. Don't overreact, panic, or work yourself into a frenzy thinking that evil forces are conspiring to get rid of you just because your boss's door is closed, you weren't copied on a memo, or your budgets are suddenly cut. Sometimes it is just business as usual and has nothing to do with you. As Freud once said, "Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar."

If one or two of these things occur, don't pack your bags and head for the exits yet. Be rational and keep things in perspective. You are looking for consistent and dramatic trends.

- Your boss, mentor, or champion leaves or is suddenly rendered powerless.
- You fail to meet expectations or are a poor performer.
- You are on progressive discipline (verbal or written warning).
- You find yourself increasingly out of the loop.
- You are given a less desirable or lucrative territory.
- Your compensation structure changes dramatically.
- You are watched and micromanaged where you once had freedom.
- You are given new, unattainable goals or targets.
- You get a new boss who comes from the outside.
- You are in an underperforming unit.
- You are in a nonrevenue- producing or overstaffed unit.
- You are in a remote office.
- You have the least tenure or were the last one hired.
- You have a significant salary.
- You are no longer included in future plans or upcoming projects.
- You are passed over for a promotion.
- You fail to accept a position or relocation.
- Your opinion is now worthless.
- You are reassigned to a lower- profile project.
- You are demoted.
- You are given a "take it or leave it" or "no win" option.
- Management makes your life a living hell.

Your lives are in the hands of men who are no smarter than you or I, many of them incompetent boobs. I know this because I've worked alongside them, gone bowling with them, watched them pass me over for promotions time and time again . . . and I say, this stinks. - Homer Simpson
-----------------------------------------
Career Comeback by Bradley G. Richardson
-----------------------------------------