Check your current work environment for these important signals, and if you identify with more than a few, then it may be time to strategize your next move.

1. No opportunity for growth or challenge. The boss has made it clear you have topped out in the company.

2. A radical shift in company values. You are consistently asked to do things that are dishonest or that lack integrity.

3. There’s a new sheriff in town. He or she is consistently replacing incumbents with their own team.

4. Centralization of authority. You no longer have the level of strategic input over your functional area that is required to be effective.

5. Lack of accountability in the organization. A lack of quality or loss of standards has eroded the company’s reputation.

6. Refusal to innovate or meet the changes of the market. The company is no longer the leader and is losing to the competition.

7. Lack of strategic vision. A once decisive management team seems to have lost their way.

If you can check one or more of these, see what can be done internally to mitigate or improve circumstances. But don’t wait too long, or hide your head in the sand before you decide to implement your own strategic career plan.

More to come . . .
What to do when it’s time to move on

1. Embrace the fact that the contingent work force is where most of the hiring is taking place. That means contract positions, temp-to-hire, and consulting. Taking such an assignment and turning in a stellar performance means you are the top candidate when full-time hiring kicks in.
2. Find all the new online places where contingent, contract, or consulting gigs are available and visit weekly.
3. Add one new thing to your search strategy this year: Publish an article, write a white paper in your area of expertise, join in or start discussions on Linkedin Groups, or start a regular blog.
4. Make your search “Outbound” by researching and making a manageable target list of companies in your industry. Find ways to network to the decision-makers within these companies.
5. Get out of your comfort zone. Develop a networking script for emails and phone calls that will help you connect with decision-makers and establish relationships. (Note: You won’t be asking for a job initially, just finding ways to connect and in some cases help them network.)

These are proven strategies that can be game-changers for you. Choose one or two that are new to you, and develop a plan to master the skills involved. Doing so will help you stand out and speed your job search!