Spooked by the Shaky Economy

46% of U.S. middle managers polled in mid-September 2008 said switching employers in the current environment is risky, according to a survey by Accenture Ltd.

Just 13% of respondents said they were actively looking for a new job, down from 30% the last time Accenture conducted a similar survey in 2005.  Yet, unemployment claims are at a seven year high with many employers reducing headcount to control costs during this recessionary period.

Automakers, brokerages, retailers, airlines, home builders, banks, newspapers and countless other ailing industries are slashing staff.  Your job could disappear tomorrow.  Getting ready for your next career transition should be part of your workday schedule today.

Both unemployed and employed managers would be wise to learn some effective career transition tips to pay attention to long before he or she is walked out of their workplace.

When unemployed executives finally receive a job offer from a new employer, to protect themselves, he or she should try to request that a severance package be included in any employment contract.

Propose the same size package your current employer has promised you if you were to be dismissed, advises Paula Marks, an executive coach and managing partner at Gilbert Tweed Associates, an executive-search firm in New York.  If your request is rejected, consider turning the offer down.  "You have to protect yourself," says Marks.

It's wise to weigh the pros and cons of a job change with a professional career coach or mentor, says Ms. Marks.  "Don't discuss it with friends and family.  They bring their own baggage, their own fears."

Source: The Wall Street Journal, November 13, 2008

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