Monday, March 23, 2009

How to Hurt Your Career in One Simple Step

Recently my company had to release one of our software engineers. He was a nice enough guy, but he simply did not deliver the expected results. Under current market conditions, losing one's job is a serious setback and we recognize that, however, we are running a business not a charity organization. Anyway, two weeks ago this gentleman called my cell phone and asked for a 1:1 meeting, ostensibly to solicit career advice from me. Specifically, he said he wanted to consult with me on the idea of going to business school. Since I was planned to go on a business trip to DC that week, I suggested we would meet on that Friday, the day after I was scheduled to return from my trip. We set a time. We set a place. I was there at the appointed time. Guess who wasn't and who did not call to cancel or to apologize?

Look, I am not a proud man so this is not an ego thing for me. I also recognize that it's a hell of a thing to kick a man when he's down, but if you are going to network do it the right way. Not keeping your appointments with colleagues, never mind with executives from whom you might want to get a reference at some point, is really not a career advancing move.

I am now finding it just a little bit harder to sympathise with this guy. What say you?

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3 comments:

frugal zeitgeist said...

Yup, that would completely chap my ass as well. Unless he apologized promptly and profusely, with a very good excuse, I'd wash my hands of the situation.

Anonymous said...

Anyone who thinks going to business school is a plan to follow after getting fired is clueless anyway. Let him fail on his own.

Shadox said...

I am not a believer in letting folks drown just because they are stupid, if I can do something to help them out. Of course, if they see me coming and decide to swim further away, I think i'll head back to shore...