Is Your Career At A Crossroads? Tips for Navigating Career Decisions

CAREER CROSSROADSDANIELLE BILBRUCK,AWKWARDLLAMA: DIGITAL + CONTENT

@DTOTHEMONEY #BMACOLORADO

MY NAME IS DANIELLE

Why am I here today?

◦ 5+ years in people management◦ 4 years in staffing◦ Nearly 30 years in awkward interactions


So Why Are You Here?

◦ You’re savvy◦ You’ve asked for things in the past with

negative or neutral results◦ You want a raise/promotion/title

change/role change◦ You may want to leave your job◦ You absolutely need to leave your job◦ You don’t know how to cultivate a skill set

for the job you want◦ You like adult beverages/snacks/BMA/me


Myths About Millennials

◦ We’re lazy◦ We’re entitled◦ We are part of the NMJ culture◦ We’re needy◦ We don’t work hard


“Stereotypes do exist, but we need to walk through them.

Forest Whitaker


SO YOU WANT A RAISEI really don’t need more money, said no one ever.

1


SO YOU WANT A RAISE

But why?◦ Did you get a promotion?◦ Do you have more

responsibility?◦ Has it been longer than 12

months since your last raise?

Pro tip: “Because I’m broke and can’t pay my bills” is not a reason.


SO YOU WANT A RAISE

Do. Your. Research.◦ Make a list of your

responsibilities.◦ Know your market value.◦ Know how your company skews

in accordance with the market.◦ Have a range in mind: Floor +

Sweet Spot


SO YOU WANT A RAISE

The Ask:◦ Come prepared with your information.◦ Eliminate tells and emotional reaction as

much as possible.◦ Know in advance what answers are

satisfactory.◦ Don’t walk away without securing next

steps

Raises are theoretically given because they are deserved not because of external circumstance.


SO YOU WANT A PROMOTIONHunger Games: Office Edition

2


SO YOU WANT A PROMOTION

...Why?◦ Do you have more

responsibility?◦ Are you managing people

without the title? ◦ Do you own a product or silo

without the title?

Pro tip: Asking for a new title can look like a resume booster--tread lightly


SO YOU WANT A PROMOTION

The Ask◦ Put together a formal list of your

responsibilities.◦ Know what your title or role would look

like at another company in a comparable industry.

◦ Call out the elephant in the room.◦ Know why it matters: with whom do you

interact?◦ Prepare to start doing the job before

you get the official promotion.◦ Don’t ask for the promotion.


ASK FOR ADVICE, GET MONEY. ASK FOR MONEY, GET ADVICE.

Make a case for your promotion...and then ask for their help in achieving it in the future.


SO YOU WANT A DEPARTMENT CHANGE3


SO YOU WANT A DEPARTMENT CHANGE

(Bet You’ll Never Guess the Question)

◦ Do you like the company?◦ Are your skills in line with a

different department?◦ Are you bored or angry with

your current role?◦ Is there another team that you

would prefer?



Stealth Mode: Expert◦ Find out if the team you want even has

any openings.◦ Learn what skills are necessary to

work on that team and if they match up with yours.

◦ Know what kind of career trajectories have existed in your company before this.

Pro-tip: “Because this team isn’t fun anymore,” won’t go over very well.



The Ask◦ Have an open, honest conversation with

the team leader you want to work for.◦ Have an open, honest conversation with

your current team leader.◦ Emphasize your reason for moving is not

personal, but professional.◦ Highlight how the company will benefit

from your move.◦ Make it clear how much you love the

company--that’s why you want to stay.


SO YOU NEED TO LEAVE YOUR JOBYour back really didn’t need that extra straw, but here we are.

4


SO YOU NEED TO LEAVE YOUR JOB

WHY!?!?!?◦ You did not get satisfactory answers with your

asks.◦ You are burned out with no signs of change.◦ You feel you have learned all you can with this

company.◦ You do not feel like there is any upward

movement.◦ You think you might be on a sinking ship.◦ Your personal life is being negatively affected.◦ You are being abused at work.◦ You found a better opportunity that more closely

matches your career goals.◦ You don’t even like what you’re doing anymore.


52.3%The percentage of Americans unhappy with their jobs.

That’s enough to make you unhappy, in case you weren’t already.


Before you go...◦ Make sure you have truly done

everything you can to address your concerns.

◦ Read through any contracts you signed prior to employment.

◦ Know whether you can be honest about your job search with other colleagues or supervisors.

◦ Find out if you have anyone you can trust to be a reference for you.


“Contracts are written when two people are in love. They’re used when those same two people hate each other’s guts.



After you’ve decided to leave:◦ Polish up your resume.◦ Put feelers out to people you

trust.◦ Go to networking events.◦ Contact a recruiter.◦ Look at niche job boards.◦ Use Twitter: #hiring #jobsPro-tip: Use discretion. Denver is a small town.



The Resume◦ Hiring managers take an average of 5

seconds to look at your resume,◦ Highlight important skill categories.◦ Don’t use a lot of copy.◦ Lead with your strengths.◦ Don’t use an objective.◦ Give to another professional to review

as a favor - remember: advice vs. money.

Pro-tip: Come to the BMA YP January event on polishing up your resume!



Tap your network◦ Send out LinkedIn messages to let

people know.◦ Attend networking events, but use

networking etiquette.◦ Ask for targeted connections to others.

Pro-tip: People hire people they know from people they know.

Bonus pro-tip: Come to the BMA YP May event on how to appropriately network!!



Contact A Recruiter◦ Niche recruiters are best.◦ Set your terms up front and be firm.◦ Recruiters are not for “bottom of the

barrel candidates.”


Internet Leads◦ Niche job boards

▫ BMA Colorado◦ Recruiter job boards◦ Twitter

▫ #hiring or #jobs◦ Facebook◦ LinkedIn



Overall tips

◦ Discretion is key.◦ You will have better luck in person,

always.◦ Job seeking IS a job.◦ Don’t give up, don’t get discouraged.◦ Tuesdays & Thursdays are major job-

seeking days.◦ Certain quarters are better for job

seeking than others.


You’re done.

ANY QUESTIONS?You can find me at:

Danielle Bilbruck

@dtothemoney

@donnie2chooch

[email protected]