The manager/worker relationship in many positions has been blurred over the years with increased work hours, friendships formed on the job, and lack of corporate integrity. Immediate supervisors are more likely to help you and stray away from the appearance of being loyal just to the company. Keep this in mind when looking for new positions, as one of the best places for information on yourselves and the job market might be with your current boss.
Layoffs in corporate America are seen daily on the news. All you need to do is pick a news channel to learn about some plant closing or the US sliding into recession. As companies begin to lay people off, the ability to leverage your current boss is all the more important as they might be losing their position or could be more willing to assist you with your job search. Not all managers will be open to this, but the ones that are will benefit you more than you think. First, ask them what they think of you. They have first hand knowledge of your strengths and weaknesses over the recent past. They are in a strong situation to tell you candidly about what they like and do not like. Ask them why they hired you in the first place and if you have grown over the time you have been there. These aspects are all important factors for upcoming interviews and will give you solid interview answers that will align with reference checks.
Ask your boss to do a practice interview. Practice makes perfect and most people are not professional interview experts. Take the time to do some dry runs at the interview process to become more comfortable with doing that again. This will help clear the air, make you feel better about public speaking and probably make you think about certain Q&A that you simply forgot. Nothing works better than having a chance to go live so take advantage if your boss is open, as it will definitely assist when it comes time to interview for the job you want.
Get an informal evaluation. Annual reviews and other reviews are documented in files and tend to be more reserved. When I speak to a manager, I want to know the truth and there is no better way to get that than a review that is not on file. Not all managers will do this, but take him/her to lunch and have a prepared list of questions that address your professional work and progression. Ask them and get them to answer them honestly. Explain to them why you are doing this and that you want to improve, this will put them more at ease and not on the defensive.
Most people do this but if you have not, make sure you do. Future employers will want to speak with past managers for reference checks. Make sure that your current boss is on that list and is a solid reference that will speak highly to your character and professional ability. If you can, speak with your boss before the interview, let him/her know why you are looking at other positions and explain to him/her what this new role is you are looking at. If you have proven yourself as a viable asset to the company you work for, your boss might be upset that you are leaving but should always provide a positive reference about their experience with you.
Jason Monastra is a 10 year veteran in the recruiting industry and current partner with United Global Technologies, http://www.ugtechnologies.com a leading recruiting and consulting firm serving the IT and engineering vertical based out of Charlotte NC.
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