The Career Continuum

The Career ContinuumThe Career ContinuumThe Career ContinuumThe Career ContinuumLorraine Rinker, Principal CareeristLorraine Rinker, Principal Careerist

Talking PointsTalking Pointsgg

Finding the perfect jobTo provide adequate t t th lid i thi Should you stay or should you go

Decided to stay? Make a lateral move

context, the slides in this presentation contain the author’s detailed speaker notes For that reason it move

Time to go? Make a graceful exit20-plus years in your career?

notes. For that reason, it should really be considered a “manifesto”.

p y yDon’t get pigeon-holedConclusion

The Career Continuum© Rinker & Associates

Finding the perfect jobFinding the perfect jobg p jg p j

It’s more important to get off to a great p g gstart, than to try to land the “perfect” job.

Career fairs and pouring through job listings in newspapers is not where mostlistings in newspapers is not where most people are finding today's jobs. Recent grads need to be more aggressive and creative in their job search:

expand contact networksmake a list of the top 10 opportunities apply on-line through the company web sitesweb sitesfollow up with personal contacts to get inside leads


Should you stay or go?Should you stay or go?y y gy y gYou've worked long and hard, mastered your craft and have become an "expert" in yourcraft and have become an expert in your area of specialty. After reflecting on your career, you realize that it is no longer aligned with your purpose in life. Now what?with your purpose in life. Now what? Because a career is a journey, planning your career should include a marketing plan as well.

Part of your marketing plan should outline how you will maintain marketable skills. This is essential during your career for both advancement within your current company, and to help you excel when you decide to take that "ne t step" and ent re o t


take that "next step" and venture out.

Decided to stay?Decided to stay?yyIf a move up in your career is not viable at your company consider a lateral moveat your company, consider a lateral move within your company to expand your business knowledge and experience while maintaining your company-specificwhile maintaining your company specific knowledge.

A lateral move is an excellent opportunityA lateral move is an excellent opportunity to learn the business from a different perspective. This is a great way to add dimension to your career; broaden yourdimension to your career; broaden your repertoire with multiple specialties, while building your expertise as a generalist in your industry.y y


Decided to go?Decided to go?ggWhether you consider a step-down, lateral, or advanced move to another company;or advanced move to another company; make a graceful exit. Prepare, plan, and be discreet.

Preparation and planning are especially important if you hold a senior position with your current employer. It will only reflect on y p y yyou positively if you prepare and plan for a smooth exit transition. After all, you will probably need key references from those you leave behind.


2020--plus yearsplus yearsp yp y

If you want to venture into new territory and try something different in your next job, lateral moves during your career can build enough diversity into your skill-set to

d th lik lih d f b i i h l dreduce the likelihood of being pigeon-holed into limited opportunities.

Example: If you are currently an Information Technology Director with excellent business acumen, relationship and communication skills; you could consider applying for a senior management position in the Marketing Department as a business/IT liaison. You would be leveraging your technologybusiness/IT liaison. You would be leveraging your technology acumen while learning how the business runs from the marketing perspective. This experience will broaden your choice of opportunities in the job market and help avoid being pigeon-holed into only technology positions.


A note about passionA note about passionpp

Yo can lo e the life oYou can love the life you have without loving your jobjob.

The point is to haveThe point is to have something in your life that you love to do; in y ;work, play, or “other”.


About the authorAbout the authorAs a former Fortune 100 Information Technology executive, Lorraine Rinker “lived” in corporate America for 22 years until she decided it was time to do something new and different Opting for the road lesswas time to do something new and different. Opting for the road less traveled, Lorraine is very familiar with change in that she is a Navy daughter who spent most of her formative years “on the move” in Tokyo Japan, California, and Hawaii. Believing that “your career journey is a series of unfolding views”, she now applies her passion for helping others realize their career dreams and goals through career p g g gand business coaching-consulting.

Lorraine formed her own private practice as a leadership career coach in 2005 and since then has helped numerous people from all walks of life discover their true potential. Lorraine is a winner of the Luminary p yAward presented by the National Association of Women Business Owners recognizing businesses that “light the way for others” and she was recently commended by the California Judicial Council for her leadership work as Board Chairman and President for Child Advocates of Placer County.

Lorraine lives in El Dorado Hills California with her husband Bob and enjoys volunteering her time to local and national humanitarian efforts for children’s rights, veterans in transition, and HIV/AIDS legislation.


The Career Continuum

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