Unexpected career changes happen, but most people are still surprised when it happens to them. Working for Lehman Brothers for 25 years, my destination was plugged in turn by turn navigation was running. I would continue on my present road to success until I reached age 55, take my vested retirement and set the cruise control. In 2009, the wheels fell off. In 2009, the banking giant central to my plan veered off the road and went bankrupt. Instead of following my “road to retirement plan,” I found myself needing to develop “a career search plan.”

What now? I was too young to retire, and my financial situation was negatively impacted because of the end of Lehman. I was the primary breadwinner in my family and had two kids in college. Standing at a career crossroads, the analytical side of me narrowed my options. I could look for another banking role, leverage my expertise and my network to a new industry or I could start my own business perhaps in a new industry. The last possibility intrigued me, 30 years in banking is a long time!

At a local networking group, I was introduced to FranNet and the concept of becoming my own boss through franchise ownership. I later met with Leslie Kuban about franchise opportunities and began traveling a new and exciting road, but when I was expectantly offered a position with a large financial institution, I hit the brakes.

In my quest for the perceived stability of a steady paycheck, I hastily put aside my desire to own my own business only to realize I wish I hadn’t given in so soon. Fortunately, this detour helped
me gain valuable clarity. I knew for certain I never wanted to work for someone else again.

My U-turn back to FranNet resulted in my taking on the role of business owner and franchise consultant. Since 2012, I’ve worked to leverage the lessons I learned during my own career transition to help others find the right path for them. Being my own boss means I set my own schedule and have time to help others as a career ministry volunteer and certified SCORE mentor.

Parked at a career crossroads is an uncomfortable spot for anyone. Here are a few tips on paving a clearer path:

1. Lean on Your Support System

I was fortunate to have an understanding and employed spouse who encouraged me to take the time to make my next move. Whether it’s a spouse, sibling, parent, friend or colleague, surrounding yourself with people who will encourage you through this challenging time is key.

2. Keep Your Network Working for You

It’s easy to feel isolated when you exit a position after many years, especially when you’ve poured so much energy into climbing the corporate ladder. Once you’ve tended to your wounds, reach out to the network you’ve built along the way.

3. Take Advantage of Free and Low-Cost Resources

One advantage to the ever changing job market is the proliferation of career networking groups and mentoring programs. Some of these groups are larger faith-based groups such as the Crossroads Career Network while others are smaller and more industry focused. Just search in your area and ask around for groups close to you and don’t be afraid to step out. I am aware of many groups in the Atlanta area, so please feel free to contact me directly for assistance.

If you’re looking at starting your own business, mentoring and training are what SCORE is all about. With local workshops, webinars and advice from experienced mentors, the possibilities are endless with the help of a SCORE mentor.

If you want to be your own boss, but have no idea what business you’d like to own, I’d like to introduce you to FranNet’s proven consultative process which will guide you through narrowing down the best franchise opportunities to match your goals, budget, skills, and preferences.

4. Get Clear on What You Want

Gaining clarity on what you want (and what you don’t want) will help you focus on the right opportunities instead of spinning your wheels in the wrong directions. This is where a career coach or consultant can help.

5. Lay out a Financial Plan

Whether you decide to invest in yourself as a business owner or to invest your time in a corporate role, change in inevitable. It’s never too early to meet with your personal financial planner and/or CPA to lay out a plan and prepare for future income gaps.

Whether you’re clear on what you really want or perhaps you know exactly what you DON’T want, it’s important to know the resources you’ll need to choose the right path for you. If business ownership is something you’ve always wanted to explore, check out my 3-part series, Success Strategies for Avoiding Typical Business Ownership Mistakes and call me today to start planning your future.

Juliet Denise, Franchise Consultant, Frannet

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.  

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Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. Strategic Partner – Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company – Complete
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: New
3. Human Capital Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company.
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer.
5. Controller – Orlando, FL-based Restaurant Company: 

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Tuesday, I received a phone call from my friend Ellen. We haven’t talked since the election, so it was a good time for her to check in and catch up. I have known Ellen for many years. A fellow Baby-boomer with a marketing background, she is currently selling syndicated research services as an independent contractor. Ellen had some interesting thoughts about our future under a Trump administration; however, she is most interested to see the repeal of Obama-care. Like so many Americans, her insurance premiums and deductibles have skyrocketed as a result of the Affordable Care Act.

Ellen said that she had found an opportunity to work part-time and receive insurance benefits. The prospective employer is a health maintenance company, a natural fit for her as she is very health-conscious and athletic. She went on to say that being interviewed by a Millennial is strange, yet amusing. At one point she was asked, “where do you see yourself in five years?” In other words, what are your long-term goals? I pictured her sitting on a beach drinking a Pina Colada. We had a good laugh about that, as she plans to retire in five years. I told her that the interviewer was probably working off a script and needed to “check off” that question. I thanked her for providing the inspiration for this post.

The next day, I had a meeting with a CMO candidate currently between jobs. Let’s call him Bill. Bill, also a baby boomer, said he is frustrated interviewing with millennials. His concern isn’t that he cannot work for a younger boss, but he believes they are biased against older candidates. His belief creates a natural tension. He told me that he had completed a series of interviews the prior day which did not go well. His prospective supervisor, a millennial, admitted that he was not an experienced interviewer. At some point in the interview, he asked Bill a series of questions as to how he would resolve particular problems the Company is experiencing. Bill admitted that he was disappointed with his response. He told the interviewer that he was uncomfortable answering the question as he did not have enough background information about the situation. That comment caused his interviewer to become defensive. It created a tense moment that may have cost Bill the job. He said that he finally answered the question, speaking to how he had resolved similar issues for former employers. My advice to Bill was to focus on how he dealt with similar situations in the past and to omit the comments about his feeling for the question.

There are reasons why Baby-boomers and Millennials might not connect during an interview. The biases held by each group toward the other are challenging. However, I think the underlying issue is a lack of skills. I have long known that most people are poor interviewers. It is not surprising, as I have met few people who have had any training for recruiting and selection. They may have read a book on interviewing, but they don’t put much effort into planning for the discussion. Most companies don’t make this kind of training a priority, or they assume their hiring managers know how to recruit and hire employees. It is somewhat baffling to me as recruiting, selection, and team building is vital to the success of the firm.

If one has not been trained to conduct an interview, it is unlikely they have the skills to be interviewed. I coach my candidates to prepare for the not-competent interviewer. I advise them to be proactive, to find opportunities to exercise some control over the discussion. I make sure they are prepared to answer questions a competent interviewer would ask. I direct them to articles for additional insight on the subject, including those I have written, which are available in my archives.

This is the New Normal. Baby-boomers will be working for Millennials. We must learn to adapt to this dynamic. Interpersonal skills must be developed and refined. In response to this need, our consulting group, ITB Partners, has begun training hiring managers to be more effective interviewers. If you are an employer looking to improve the effectiveness of your recruiting and selection program, we should talk. If you are a job seeker looking to improve your skills, we are here to help you.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.  

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. Strategic Partner – Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company – Complete
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: New
3. Human Capital Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company.
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer.
5. Controller – Orlando, FL-based Restaurant Company: 

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It is Prime Time! The end of 2016 is upon us, and the celebration is beginning. You may be attending a lot of parties, and networking events. In keeping with the season, it makes sense to offer up some advice and guidance to ensure that you have a productive month.

The Holiday Season is all about bringing people together. It is a time of celebration, reflection, and anticipation for the New Year. It is a time for networking groups to schedule events to close out the year. During this month, you have the opportunity to meet people you will want to add to your business network or social circle. These events are target-rich environments to identify and connect with influencers. Although each event will have a specific focus, you can exercise some leverage. In other words, social events can generate useful job-search connections, while professional networking events may result in social opportunities.

As you contemplate your calendar for December, begin with a plan. Determine what you want to accomplish this month. If you are between situations or looking to make a move, you may be looking for people who can help you locate your next job. In this case, you should try to attend as many events as you can. Of course, you will necessarily want to prioritize your time for friends and family. Religious activities are an important consideration. If there is a conflict, all things being equal, opt for the event that best supports your objectives for the month. In some cases, you may be able to attend multiple events, dividing your time between them on the same day.

Set a goal for each party! Begin with the guest list. Who do you want to meet? Plan to meet specific people who may be helpful. Learn who will be attending each event and determine who you want to meet. Conducting research on guests is a lot easier to do today, as more and more event planners are using on-line applications to manage attendance. Those applications will notify you as others accepted the invitation, so you will know who plans to attend. Then, you can cross-reference individuals to their LinkedIn profiles.

Time is short. Be strategic! The objective is to meet influential people, gain their interest, and schedule a follow-on meeting. Make a good impression, so they will want to help you. Leverage your friends, family, and acquaintances to help identify these influence-rs. Make sure that your elevator speech and appropriate variations are well-honed and committed to memory. Bring business cards to distribute. Make notes on the back of each card you receive so you can send a personalized message. Remember, ask to schedule a meeting. Additionally, become connected to these folks on LinkedIn. Everyone is a potential lead to a job, so introduce yourself to someone new.

Stay focused on your objective. The approach you chose to follow will be different depending on whether the event is business related networking or more of a social event. If the event is for
business networking, stay focused on business. If the event is a social gathering, be sociable. As you get to know the other party, there is nothing wrong with getting to know about their occupation, if in a social setting, or about their personal interests, if at a networking event. Begin with casual conversation. Ask questions, including advice. Listen with interest. Stay away from religion, politics, or other potentially sensitive issues, unless you are talking with like-minded friends or associates

Here are some parting thoughts. Maintain a friendly, positive attitude. You will attract more interesting people. Dress appropriately. You don’t want to stand out in a negative way. Eventually, most people will migrate in that direction. Don’t overindulge in food or alcohol. Remember to thank the host before leaving, and later, send a thank you note. Enjoy yourself; the Holiday Season can be a lot of fun!

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.  

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. Strategic Partner – Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company – Complete
2. Director of Business Dev, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: New
3. Human Capital Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company.
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer.
5. Controller – Orlando, FL-based Restaurant Company: 

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“My professional team and I are connected through a common alignment of goals to serve the client and its members. My personal team of connections on dating apps has a common alignment of goals and the willingness to share a bit of ourselves in the journey of life to serve each other.“ A direct quote from my friend Faith.

I have argued that a successful search begins with a plan. Finding a life partner requires a plan too. In reality, however, even before developing a plan, one must begin with a winning attitude. Success requires a positive, optimistic, yet realistic outlook. One must be confident that the search will be successful in a reasonable period of time. And, you must pursue your search with integrity. Confidence is the key to a winning attitude. You must believe in your skills and capabilities. You must believe in yourself.

A lack of confidence cannot be disguised, and it will be fatal. I am certain that you have had experience with people who were unconvincing. You did not believe they could deliver on their claims. Their presentation did not ring true, and their body language was not congruent. Whatever they were selling, they failed to close the deal. Confidence comes from experience. The more experience one has networking, or dating, the more skillful one becomes. Networking forces us out of our comfort zone. It is challenging for some. With practice, you will perfect your message and gain needed information. You learn to listen for cues, clues, and signals to help evaluate options. You learn how to communicate your goals and capabilities in a way that resonates with others. You learn how and when to present information that may not be flattering. You learn how to maintain your composure with grace and professionalism. You learn to express interest without looking desperate. You learn that a little mystery enhances interest. Your experience builds confidence which captivates the other party.

I have been amused by stories friends have told about their first meetings. All too often, the other person’s physical description and photograph were outdated, with little resemblance to the current reality. Of course, it wasn’t amusing to my friends. No one likes wasting time and energy on a fantasy. Integrity; consistent, honest, ethical behavior, is the backbone of your efforts. An accurate presentation of your background and accomplishments is expected. A current photo is required, when dating. Outdated photographs are viewed as deceptive, a major turnoff. Inaccurate embellishments and outright lies will be discovered. Honesty is always the best policy.

Making a good physical presentation at the first personal meeting will determine if the process will move forward. Appropriate attire and grooming is a good place to start. Appropriate means matching the norms of the employer, or situation. I am reminded of something my mother often told me. She said, “You won’t be viewed negatively if you are over-dressed, but you will be if you are under-dressed.” That advice has served me well. One must be well versed in etiquette to behave according to expectations. Your communication skills are being evaluated as you are evaluating the other party. Are you a likeable person? Do people enjoy your company? If you are not a friendly, likeable person it will be difficult finding an appropriate job, or mate. Be likeable. People like to date, and work with people they like.

There will be setbacks along the way. Disappointment is a part of the process. One must have coping skills to work through the rough spots. One of the best coping skills is to build a large list of  prospects. If one or two prospects fall out, you will still have ample targets to pursue.  Remember, search is a numbers game. Think of a funnel, as a metaphor for the process. A funnel is broad at the top and narrow at the bottom. Target a large, but reasonable number of employers for consideration at the beginning of your search. Then work the process so that, hopefully, you will have two or three finalists to choose from. Start with a lot of participants (play the field) and work them through your process until only one is left standing.  Job search and Mate-search begins with the right attitude and confidence in your skills. If you lack confidence and do not present a winning attitude, your search will be prolonged until you make the necessary changes.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.  

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. Strategic Partner – Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company – Complete
2. Director of Business Development, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: New
3. Payroll-Benefits Manager, Atlanta-based Retail Company. New
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer.  New
5. Controller – Orlando, FL-based Restaurant Company:  New

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My recent article on the use of Independent Contractors (IC) as a substitution for full-time employment generated some interesting conversation.  I am not surprised, as it is an arrangement that is under greater scrutiny by the IRS.  Many employers and Freelancers are unclear as to the rules governing this relationship. 

As an employer, you have a reason to be careful in this transaction, as worker misclassification can be a costly mistake.  Your company will be at risk to pay penalties and to remit payroll taxes that would otherwise have been paid.

As a prospective employee, you should understand your rights, in the event that an employer wants you to work as an IC.  You should know that you will be responsible for FICA (payroll) taxes which will run about 15% of your gross earnings.

So, how does an employer ensure that an IC does not become classified by the IRS as an employee?  Likewise, how does a prospective employee protect himself from an employer that does not understand the rules?

I consulted with my HR expert, and reviewed IRS Form SS8 to provide some direction.  The advice I received was: “When you can only direct or control the result of someone’s work and not what will be done and how it will be done, then the worker is typically defined as an independent contractor. These are self-employed workers.  For an employee, you control what work is to be done, when it will be done, where it will be done, and how it will be done.”  This seems to be a pretty good summary of the relationship between Employer and IC.  Remember, I am not an attorney and this is not meant to be legal advice.  For further clarification always seek the advice of an attorney. 

Once you have entered into an agreement with an independent contractor, there are a number of IC work habits you must understand to comply with the IRS and other agencies.  The IRS test considers three broad categories: Behavioral Control – who determines how the work will be done; Financial Control – how the IC is compensated; and Relationship with the Employer; – how the relationship is presented to the public.

The following guidelines should be helpful.

Behavioral Control:

1.     The IC performs their work and provides services without your direction.

2.     The IC does not work at your offices unless the nature of the services absolutely requires it.

3.     The IC is not provided employee handbooks or company policy manuals.

4.     The IC establishes his working hours as he determines to be appropriate.

5.     The IC is not given too much work or short deadlines which require them to work full time for you. 

6.     The IC is not provided ongoing instructions or training.

Financial Control:

1.     The IC is not provided with equipment or materials unless absolutely necessary.

2.     The IC is not paid travel or other business expenses directly.

3.     The IC is not given employment benefits.

4.     The IC is not required to give you formal written reports.

5.     The IC is not invited to employee meetings or functions.

6.     The IC not paid on a weekly, biweekly, or monthly basis as you pay employees.

Relationship to the Employer:

1.     The IC is not provided company business cards or stationery.

2.     The IC does not have a title within your company.

3.     The IC is not referred to as an employee of the company.

4.     The IC agreement may be terminated by either party without liability.

5.     The IC may provide similar services for other companies.

6.     Follow the terms of the IC Agreement, including termination provisions.

7.     If the IC is to be given additional work, execute a new IC Agreement

I’ve been told it is not a single issue that decides the question, so one must look at all of the guidelines. 

Working with Independent Contractors is certain to become more important as we transition into the Digital Age.   Establishing a relationship that adheres to the guidelines will minimize the risk to your business.  Follow the terms of the IC agreement, including its termination provisions.  If in doubt, consult an attorney and/or complete IRS Form SS8.

Thank you for visiting my blog.  I hope you enjoyed my point of view and would like to receive regular posts directly to your email inbox. Toward this end, put your contact information on my mailing list.

Your feedback helps me continue to publish articles that you want to read. Your input is important to me so; please leave a comment.

Jim Weber, President
New Century Dynamics Executive Search
Author of: Fighting Alligators: Job Search Strategy For The New Normal

Current Assignments

1. Strategic Partner – Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company – Complete
2. Director of Business Development, Atlanta-based B2B Professional Services Company: New
3. Training Director – Southeastern-based Restaurant Group:  New
4. Senior Accounting Manager – Atlanta-based Manufacturer.  New
5. Controller – Orlando, FL-based Restaurant Company:  New

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