“DON’T GO OUT THERE …” This week I was introduced to an A+ player who’s thinking of leaving her company because she “feels that she’s outgrown her current position.” We talked for 45 minutes. While I don’t think she’s completely out of headroom in her role, she’s going to be too big for it in the next 12 months. Her company tends to rotate its best executives onto its biggest projects, and she will have wrapped up her current ecommerce integration in the next few months and she’s “meh” about where she’ll be assigned next. (Likely Operations.) My advice: Don’t leave if you don’t have to. There’s going to be a massive amount of fear, uncertainty, and doubt in the ecom job market between now and the election — and that uncertainty may lag into the new year, depending on who wins. If you *MUST* leave, do whatcha gotta do. But please know the job market is a bear and it’s to be avoided if it all possible. 👍 to share …
There are more layoffs than hires coming at senior levels. The bleeding isn’t over. My advice, esp at senior levels: Stay focused on what you have and don’t take your eye off it until / unless you have something firm in hand. A bird in the hand is worth 100 in the bush right now!
AI is also putting enormous pressure on all those mid-level copywriters, paid search analysts, and product photographers. Staff will be hollowed out. Bear market if you’re not super creative and adaptive.
💯I know a lot of A+ players that have been out of work for close to a year. These are folks with serious credentials, the right schooling, etc. Still can't land something. If you have something you should stay put right now. There will be some clarity coming out of the election (whatever the result) and it looks like there might be some easing of interest rates which will help. In the meantime, hunker down.
The rapid evolution of e-commerce, advancements in AI, and fluctuating organizational structures within the industry make career growth and development particularly challenging. This raises questions about the legitimacy and sustainability of e-commerce as a long-term career path. While strategic thinking in an uncertain job market is wise, staying in a role out of fear can stifle professional development and lead to missed opportunities. Remaining in a limiting position may cause disengagement and burnout, ultimately affecting performance in both current and future roles. Given the unpredictability of job markets, waiting for a more "stable" time could mean missing out on valuable opportunities that could propel her career and personal development forward.
Harry Joiner I applaud your posting this and educating folks based on the guidance you gave that eCommerce pro. I share your sentiments. My eldest just started her first full-time job post college. And she is loving it. My hope for her? Is that as it appears she has picked her niche and a great corporation to build a huge portion of her life with? That she stay on the track. And never ever get off. Unless she absolutely has to. I was talking to an executive yesterday who is a transformation guru. Ex GE, ex Equifax, ex ADP. Capable. Personable. Experienced. Polished. Gravitas. A lot to offer. He will be out of a job for 2 years starting next month. Says it's the most challenging period yet in his career. Yours is a great recommendation. If gainfully full-time employed, and that's what you want since you have plenty of career runway left, stay put. Unless all the stars align. I'd even say..... unless you have the perfect employment contract with a very nice parachute. Because in this market - especially at the executive level - those departing are gonna need it.
Completely agree! I have advised others that now is not the time to leave. You do not want to voluntarily join this job market.
Election years are always soft. She should at least wait until November and then we’ll have some idea of whats going to happen.
Do not leave unless she has another role. It’s a b*tch out there
Director of Ecommerce Marketplaces - Amazon | Retail Media | Amazon 1P/3P/Ads | ex-WPP | ex-LEGO | Head of Amazon
1moIf ecommerce is just a rotation for them, are they really an A+ player in ecommerce? Would they be able to join another company and be perceived as an A+ player if their experience was just a rotation and at a higher level? Having multiple experiences working in an environment with a rotational executive coming in like that, their experience was usually managing up internally but not actually having the skills to go to another org to impact the ecommerce teams positively.