Yikes. Based on the number of emails and calls I’ve been getting recently, the economic downturn has started affecting a number of really good service & support executives. This ranges from “I see the writing on the wall, what’s available?” to “We downsized two weeks ago, and I’m looking.”

Often people ask for advice on what to do. If  you think I can help you in any way in your job search, feel free to reach out and contact me.

What about the rest of you who still have jobs? Here are three tips:

1. Read the article titled ‘What to do in tough times’.
2. Give back to the professional community by speaking/participating/becoming a local chapter officer in conferences, seminars or local chapter meetings. (If you are in the New England area, you shouldn’t miss out on the First Wednesday Group.)
   Yup, I’ve heard all the excuses. You really want to, but don’t have the time. Work (and more work), family — heck what about all the things you want to do for yourself but don’t have the time? My only observation is: you may be superb at what you do and your company may value it highly. At a point when your paths diverge, the better connected person will always have an edge.
3. Stretch out. Use your knowledge of customers and company wide processes to see if there are other ways you can help out your organization. (This is how I ended up running a 15,000 server network, global operations and most of IT in addition to Global Services at my last corporate gig.) Have you considered working internationally? Why not?

Posted in: Enterprise Support, IT support, Managing Support, Technical Support, customer service