projecting a career disaster!!
I found out today that my boss is resigning from the company. He’s going to move onto another company closer to his home with better benefits and pay. Although I’m very happy for him and wish him the best I fear who the company is going to chose to replace him. This was my first experience working under a manager that recognized my potential and consistently opened training and mentoring opportunities to cultivate my career. I’ve only been with the company for a year working in the customer support call center. I’m already on a fast track to a leadership position thanks to his help. I’m concerned the next manager is not going to be as supportive. Is there anything I can do in the next two weeks that my manager will be here to make sure my career continues to progress under the new leadership? Should I ask for some kind of guarantee in writing?
Julien, I think it is because of the current administration and their policies. I am not anti anything, but the facts are that there are only so many jobs for so many people. Employers naturally want people who will work for less. That means hiring those who are younger, no matter what their experience level. I have over 30 years experience, 3 degrees, two of them on the Masters level and 18 state licenses and yet I am excluded due to age, which by the way, is supposed to be illegal. I had planned to work many more years and yet I find myself bored, sitting in front of a TV all day and my only option is to turn my car into a taxi, which in the area I live could be dangerous. I just had a Headhunter call me nut the only job he has is from a company who fired me in 2013 because I got sick. I have recovered now and ready to go back to work.
That happened to me 15 years ago. We had a great manager. He was finally helping my career. One day I was going to lunch and I saw him leaving box in hand. I found out later he had been fired!. I never learned why. Almost 2 years later the whole company closed down, putting thousands of people including me out of work. After 3 months, I managed to find other employment and hang on for the next 10 years until I could get a halfway decent retirement. Today, I want to work but can't because the younger people keep pushing me out of a job. My only hope at this point is that we can elect a president who recognizes there is value in older workers and he will bring jobs back so that the younger and foreign workers will go back to their own occupations and not steal my job. I worked at my job for almost 33 years now. I've had about 50 to 100 interviews. I can still work and do a good job, but no one will hire me because I am too old. So save your money while you can because if nothing changes in Nov., your time is coming as it is for all of us.
Collin, you have nothing to fear but fear itself (thank you FDR). In all walks of life you will find both golden apples and bitter fruit. It would be a boring life if there were no challenges. You must trust your leadership's instincts since they chose your original manager. Determine what you personally find so compelling about your current manager and learn from it. The way I see it you have two choices: either keep an open mind about the newbie and their management style or move on. Should you decide to move on you again have two choices: either contact your former manager for a possible placement or a lateral move with your current organization. Frankly, following your current leader is both safe and secure but doesn't expose you to other leadership or learning styles. There are no guarantees in life but there are always creative opportunities. You can choose to be safe and stagnate or to be challenged and grow. Either path has it's rewards but only you can decide what is best for you. I wish you well.
Stop worrying about what hasn't happened yet. There are no guarantees in this world.
Here's a link to a post on LinkedIn regarding how to deal with a new manager: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/theres-new-boss-town-alex-malley I hope it helps.
Ask for a brief meet with your manager to talk about your concerns before his last day.
FYI, most of those training and development decisions are made in a collaboration of managers and leaders within the department or division. I’m sure your manager initiated it but I’m sure there are other department heads who are aware of your talents.
Don’t be too quick to jump the gun and stress out before knowing who going to replace your boss He/she might end up being better than you current manager.
If you believe he was that great a manager and - there's no risk of contacting him on the outside and finding out if there is a role for you to go with him? If not, then its a great opportunity to turn him into a Mentor. Ask him how to navigate success with your current company - he knows you and he knows the company - I am sure his advice will be great, and he'll be flattered at the opportunity. This conversation needs to happen outside of work though - ask him to buy him a coffee at a starbucks before or after work (or something like that) and get his thoughts there. Good luck. And congrats. If you had that kind of support from one good manager - I am sure you will find the opportunity to repeat it again!
Don't overwork this situation. Be bold and ask your boss what you should do now that his mentor is leaving. He should tell you what his boss thinks....