I am a 28 year-old scientist in a mid west company that has just been acquired by a large east coast organization. The communication here on the acquisition has been very limited. The acquiring company has made the usual statement, "No plans are scheduled for changing the company's structure at this time. We plan on the organization continuing to operate as an autonomous business unit." The new company may be very forthright in this statement, but I need to think about my family and career. What steps can I take to protect myself in this uncertain atmosphere?

Your situation is not unusual in the world we live in today. In fact, it is very common. You are, however, smart not to put your head in the sand and hope that things will work out for the best. The upside of this situation is that you may very well have opportunities for upward mobility that did not exist with your current company. There may also be an infusion of funds into your organization that result in new opportunities.

Just as companies perform due diligence when acquiring an organization, you would be well advised to research the east coast company and its practices. Consider exploring the following:

1. What is the acquiring company's track record when taking over other organizations? Have they traditionally allowed the acquired companies to operate independently or have the integrated them into the parent company?

2. Who are the key executives in the acquiring company responsible for your function? What can you learn about their leadership style and background?

3. What leverage do you have (or not have) as a result of your area of expertise or specialization? Will the acquiring company be interested in expanding or developing your function or is it something that does not appear to be part of their plans?

4. What type of work is currently done at the acquiring company that might be of interest to you? What are the opportunities in these areas?

5. Reenergize your network. Make sure you are in contact with friends and colleagues who can help you should you decide to seek out new employment.

6. Make sure, over the next few months, that you attend professional meetings and conferences.

This is not the end of the world. However, it only makes sense that you perform a mini-career assessment. Is your current work satisfying? Is your education sufficient to take you where you want to go? How up-to-date is your resume and network? When was the last time you had lunch with a colleague from another company?

Play your cards close to the vest. Be careful who you express your concerns to at your current company. Maintain a positive attitude during these challenging times and be prepared to execute several career options.

I hope this information is helpful. Keep me posted and don't hesitate to contact me as things evolve.

Copyright 2006, Mark J. Campbell. All rights reserved.
Permission to reprint the "Surviving an Acquisition" article is granted, provided you let me know where it is being printed, the copyright is not removed, and the following text accompanies each article:

"Mark Campbell partners with organizations for leadership development. For a complimentary subscription to his newsletter, "Management Challenges," go to www.mjcampbellassoc.com."