Naked CIO: Time to ask for help

The Naked CIO never thought it'd like outplacement services - but a recent stint with one has changed its mind. Here's why.

As part of my redundancy package I was given access to an established outplacement company to help with the transition from my previous job.

I was somewhat sceptical of the value of this service. As we all know becoming a CIO requires ego - and anyone who has read my articles in the past probably has deduced my ego is intact.

As such it is not only hard to ask for help but also to rationalise that I need help if I am going to succeed in my upcoming endeavours.

Interestingly, what I have found is that many of the services they offer are quite useful. They allow you to assess your skill set, focus your job search activities and finesse your contact and interview skills. I believe executives and IT professionals should consider such services as part of their job searching arsenal.

It is an extremely competitive environment out there and any advantage you can gain will be useful to secure your future. Outplacement companies generally have a good network of contacts from agencies and recruiters, as well as offer coaching techniques - the latter has proved the biggest benefit to me.

The company I am dealing with professes to be able to find a more satisfying job opportunity for their clients 80 per cent of the time, within nine months. Now with the economy the way it is this may be more difficult, but it is still a very compelling statistic.

At the very least outplacement services force individuals to assess themselves in ways they probably haven't before. In addition it provides insight on how to evaluate jobs and to assess what employers are looking for in a prospective applicant. This helps you learn how to present yourself in a way that is consistent with what the employer is looking for.

Furthermore, the services help you to modify your CV and communication techniques in a way that will get the most visibility and attention from those reviewing your requirements.

I would recommend anyone who is actively looking for job opportunities or who has recently been displaced investigate these services as a potential investment into your future. Even if you decide not to engage in professional coaching services, consider your approach and solicit feedback on your CV.

Also consider very thoughtfully what you are looking for in your future and what opportunities you should concentrate on that best represent the value you can bring to a new employer.

And if possible, find someone to do mock job interviews with you so you can practice responses and learn to be clear and concise in answering specific questions.

The more focused you are in your search, the more effective you will be at selling yourself and securing a new employment opportunity.

The key to finding a new and desirable job opportunity is to be prepared and treat preparation as a job. There is no fault in being too prepared but there are definitely negative consequences if you aren't prepared enough.