A bit misleading
I think this book is a bit misleading, as it is not about "Navigating Major Career Transitions". I thought it would be about contemplating, planning and executing your next career move, but it is for people who already have made the move. I find that the information given is for very specific situations (i.e. a lot of information is given about international moves, which is not something I plan to do). It is also focused solely on senior management positions, so it was completely irrelevant to me.
There was a lot of information in this book, and Watkins is obviously a seasoned and knowledgable career coach, but I don't think this book would be useful to most people. It also makes itself appear to be a more general career guide, when in reality, it is more specific to only a few senior level individuals who are making specific career changes.
I've got the job, now what?
This book isn't about getting a job or promotion, it's about what to do after you start in that new position.
I'm lucky enough to be working while looking for a new job and this book was very helpful in keeping me motivated and effective at my current positions. It's also very helpful for my confidence about the positions I'm applying for because I've given serious thought to what I'll do once I've achieved that position.
Book with no wasted
Best book for a manager planning to move to a new role or company. It helps making you feel safer and maintaining the change fears under control.
Increasingly important especially with this recession
When I first started my career (back in the big-hair 80s), you had ample time to get up to speed and prove yourself. The reasoning is that there was naturally a learning curve and you had to be given time to learn the career and the position you were starting out.
Fast forward to 2008. Two of us were hired within 2 weeks of each other for a major health insurance company. We both worked together to get up to speed. I thought we were both making comparable progress. But low and behold, very suddenly less than 3 months after we were hired, he was very suddenly let go. The statement I heard from my manager was "it was clear he didn't wasn't going to be successful in this organization so it was best for us to not waste his time and ours by keeping him on any longer". That was it -- less than 90 days and he was gone.
With more than 10 percent of the workforce unemployed, employers expect new employees to hit the ground running. If they don't, they aren't going to waste time on "slow bloomers" and they'll lose no time replacing you with someone who does have the skills.
This book provides insight into what type of clues employers are looking for to see if you will "make it" and be successful in the organization. It provides concrete suggestions about how to prove that you are learning what you need to know and if you are not learning -- how to acquire that knowledge quickly and under the radar so that it does not appear that you are "floundering" and raise red flags withing management.
This book is a must have for individuals starting their careers as well as employees with a lot of experience. Just because you were successful in one organization is no guarantee that you will be successful in others and this book helps you identify an action plan to increase your chances of getting up to speed quickly so that you won't suffer the same fate as my co-worker.
Good luck!
[NCJVR]
No nonsense guide
I have never read a book that more thoroughly spelled out the odd place a career transition can be, and offer tips to navigate the situation.
If you are mid-career and are mulling over the options before you, you may find this to be an indispensable read. It helps to clarify and shed light on aspects you may not have considered.
