New Career Norms For Job Seekers in Job Market Today

Are you looking to ace your career prospects? Well, and then get geared to adopt some new career norms doing the rounds in the job market today. Gone are the days when demure dressing, non-negotiation and a low profile were the key tenets of a successful career. If you want to soar high (and fast), you need to adopt the strategies of the young guns today and not the ideals of the stars of yesteryears. "Rules have changed in both the pre-hire and post-hire phase and if you want to be a part of the success team, then you must choose to implement the latest laws at both stages," advises Dhruv Shenoy, vice president marketing, Monster Asia. Have for you the real lowdown on the contemporary career conventions governing the workplace arena. Use this guide as a roadmap to cease being just a face in the crowded workplace and make a lasting impression wherever you go.

Old rule:Revise your CV when you start looking for a job change

New law:Your resume is a living document. Ensure it is updated at all times

"Your CV is your direct hotline to the world of work. Keep it alive. It is a good idea to 'test market' your resume whenever you get an opportunity," advises Kanika Mar-wah, career counselor and University of Warrick representative. A well-kept CV is also your guideline to how your career is progressing and helps you to identify any areas that need development. Kanika feels it is important to get an expert to review your resume periodically for format and content correction.

Old rule:Never negotiate salary while you are interviewing

New law:Put the expectations on the table before you accept an offer.

About a decade ago it was considered insolent to talk money at the interviewing stage and after that negotiating for the best package was not always possible.

"Not anymore," says Pervin Malhotra, executive director, Career Guidance India (CARING).

"Nowadays, prospective employees do not shy away from the topic of emoluments," she says. Dhruv attributes the reason for this change in attitude to the fact that today we are in a job market that is partial to job seekers. "Hiring is up and there is not much experienced and able talent out there to meet the demand especially in growth sectors. Hence, people who are good know that companies out there will recruit them on their terms. And the best time to get what you want is before you say 'yes' to a job."

This does not mean that you must quote the figures first. All we are saying is that now you can ask for a figure higher that what is offered if you think you deserve it and even ask for details of the breakup of your package and demand added benefits like travel allowance, phone bills, insurance cover etc.

Old rule:Dress conservative at work

New law:Looking good is part of the job

"That particular revolution took place eight years back when the concept of Friday dressing complete with peaches, pinks and green cropped up in boardrooms," says Dhruv with a laugh. So if you are still stuck under volumes of material, sport dull, deadened hues to work, have an outdated hairdo and wear geeky spectacles, chances are that you will be slotted as a non-achiever instead of a sincere workhorse. Explore your feminine side, wear trendy accessories, do get that manicure, leave your hair open once in a while, and add a dash of colour to every outfit, wear light make up, do whatever it takes to maintain a stylish look.

Old rule: Long tenures reflect career stability

New law:Your work speaks for your ability, not the duration of your stint

Once upon a time, the longer you stayed with a company, the better your career graph would be. Today that is not the case. "In certain industries like human resources and finance it is considered important to stay, learn the rules and then move. However in information technology or marketing jobs, the buzzword seems to be: meet your goals and move on, since challenges can be limited and therefore growth potential not adequate," explains Kanika. "As long as you are delivering and your movements reflect a steady career growth and your reasons for leaving your previous jobs are oriented towards better prospects; the length of your stay is not under scrutiny any more. But if you are jumping without reason and without good references, you could be in trouble," cautions Dhruv.

Old rule:Work and romance do not mix

New law:lf you find your soul mate in the next cubicle, go for it.

A recent Poll indicated that 58 percent of the respondents were positively inclined to having romantic relationships in office.

"The result of this poll is an indication of the changing social dynamics at the work place. Today, to keep up with the pressures of job and career, employees may be inclined to spend more and more time at the office. It also may mean they are spending more time with their colleagues, resulting in more companionships formed at the workplace," explains Dhruv.

Realising this, most companies are now turning a blind eye to workplace dating as long as work is not affected. "Earlier office romances were a taboo and had to be kept under wraps but now companies are more accommodating and willing to let people work out their personal dynamics themselves," adds Pervin.

Old rule:Take time to settle in your new job

New law:Display your ability to perform from Day 1

"The whole concept of the one-to two month honeymoon period post joining a new job is out of the window" says Dhruv. "Organisations are looking for people who can hit the running ground." Faster adaptability, goal setting and target achievement, input generation, all are expected from day 1. "Also, nowadays employers are looking for people who are multi-skilled as opposed to those who excel only in one field.

So you must have the ability to think on your feet, do several things at one go, learn to mix and match to create new dimensions and roles. It’s these skills that will keep you a head above the rest," explains Pervin. The new mantra in the world of work is "self-development".

Your aim should always be to put together a plan to market a very valuable product -YOU.

Each right step leads you to success and a single wrong one can propel your downfall. So make sure you know what the rules are and play by them.