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Packaging Horizons
Another New Boss, Another New Job
How to stay afloat when your career is in a sea of change.
Fresh out of school and just getting used to the workplace in her first professional job, Lisa Apolinski, MPH, wasn't in the loop to hear the gossip about layoffs, so when she got the call at home telling her that she was out of a job, it was a shock to say the least. She admits that her head had "been in the sand." She hadn't seen the layoff coming. But it was a lesson learned. She took off her rose colored glasses, moved to another industry, and began closely observing what was going on around her. That first experience served her well.
In her current job as marketing pricing analyst at Lawson Mardon USA Inc. in Northbrook, IL., Apolinski says, "A lot of people don't pick up clues and so aren't ready when change comes. By the time I got to my third job I was very aware when things were changing."
On the other hand, Denise (D.C.) Stanfa, field sales manager at Georgia Pacific in Cincinnati, Ohio, has seen change in her career from an entirely different perspective. She stayed in one place as her bosses moved on. "In the last five years I've had seven bosses and only changed jobs once," reports Stanfa. "Some left. Some got promoted. Last year I left the company."
Whether you create the change or it happens to you, change is going to happen and in many cases can be a positive rather than a negative. You just have to know how to prepare for it and how to smooth the transition. Consider these suggestions from those who have been through many career transitions.
Research as much as you can about your new job before you accept it. "For each industry I moved into," states Apolinski, "I investigated as much as I could." She asked her future boss if she could visit the plants and talk to the people with whom she would be working. She compares taking a new job to buying a home. "You wouldn't just look at the picture in the paper and say, "I'll take it, would you?" she points out. The more you know about a future job, the easier it will be to transition into it.
Become aware of your new boss' management style. "People access and process information differently," observes Stanfa. "If theyÕre analytical, they'll want you to provide them with written documents and reports. If they're amicable, then you will have to allow time for social chitchat. If they're driven, they'll want you to get straight to the bottom line." Apolinski agrees that as you start a new position, it helps tremendously to know if your boss can't stand e-mail and doesn't want the details about what you're doing.
Coming from an engineering background, Molly Lynn Morphew, packaging engineer at Pactive Corp. in Lake Forest, Ill., took courses in college about the business of packaging. She found that viewpoint very helpful to her because it gave her a business perspective, not just the technical side. "That helps me to know what my manager is looking for," states Morphew, "because when I'm presenting or thinking of ideas, I am also thinking of the business goals." She says that the transitions she made between jobs have been much smoother because she knows how to see projects from the management's perspective.
You will have to prove yourself. Stanfa reports that with all the managers she's had to adapt to, she's never had a female boss. In a male-dominated industry you probably will be reporting to a man, which means you might not automatically be given credibility. Stanfa advises that you probably will have to earn it. Her solution was to write comprehensive reports of her activities and accomplishments that detailed what she had done, what she was presently doing, and where she was headed.
Find out what's expected of you. You may think you're not up to par and are miserable when in fact, you're doing fine. Or, you could assume that you're doing a great job and find out that your manager had a whole different expectation of the project's results or your approach to it. Marianna Casterella, sales manager at Eluci International, Inc. in Carlstadt, N.J., suggests sitting with your boss to review your work and his or her expectations. "Someone once told me that if I don't ask what's expected how would I know?" she says.
Don't be afraid to ask a lot of questions. Even if you think they're simplistic and kind of lame, ask. Advises Casterella, "So many times we assume we should know something and so don't ask, but not asking can cost you." You must realize that you're on a learning curve and in training when you begin a job. Questions are inevitable and expected.
Sharpen your people skills, you're going to need them. Technical professionals can become so technically proficient, they don't realize the importance of communication and interpersonal skills, especially in a team-oriented workplace. Says Apolinski, "If your technical skills are weak and your people skills strong, your people skills will more than compensate."
Take care of yourself. Starting a new job or working with a new manager is a stressful situation no matter how well prepared you are. Casterella advises that your own well being might be last on your agenda, but taking care of yourself should come first. If you don't feel well, how can you do a good job? "Try and let your family and friends know what you are experiencing so they can understand why your schedule is so hectic. They will be able to support you, which will help ease your stress," she says.
For those who have unexpectedly been laid off, the positives of job change might be hard to see. However, Morphew observes that changing bosses gives you the opportunity to work with different personalities and thus increases your interpersonal skills. Stanfa agrees that the change of a job or manager can be positive because you will be challenged and won't fall into the trap of complacency. However she says (from experience), "If your manager or job is a constant revolving door, it's a starting over process, no matter how you look at it."
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