Your Career Development Journey
Regardless of whether you are employed and looking to move up, or unemployed looking to do something part-time, full-time or entrepreneurial, following these same type of “travel” preparations will save you time and energy.
And there’s no doubt about it - getting your resume updated in order to share past experiences with potential employers is an important part of the job search journey (the first thing any potential employer or networking connection will ask, “Do you have an updated resume?”). However, when you step back to take the time to plan your “trip to the next job”, the resume is not the first thing to focus on. Trust me on this. From personal, as well as coaching experiences with hundreds of clients going through some type of career transition, I’ve confirmed the following steps will provide you with a more productive, organized and successful journey.
1. Self-Discovery – I see lots of individuals try to avoid this step. Their reasoning – Who knows me better than me? I don’t need to explore – heck, I just need a job! However, when they avoid this critical starting point, they usually find their journey is not as targeted, their interviews are not as crisp, and they appear like they are shooting from the hip at anything that moves….. trying to find any job that will pay the rent. This usually plays out as a big red flag for managers interviewing candidates who have scooted around this initial step of career planning.
At another time I’ll write more about self-discovery, but for now just consider this:
• When’s the last time you took any time to really think about and get feedback on your strengths and areas needing improvement? You probably also haven’t thought much about what kind of work makes you happy and doesn’t even feel like work.
• When’s the last time you gave serious thought to how the workplace is changing and what new skills or experiences you might need to be “best” qualified for a job, especially in this new workplace/economic environment?
• When’s the last time you used an assessment tool such as Myers-Briggs or the Herrmann Brain Dominance Instrument (HBDI) to help you open your mind to your work style and communication preferences and how you relate with others?
Are you getting the idea? Without taking the proper amount of time to get to know yourself and how you fit an organization in this new economy, your journey will be helter-skeltor because your branding will be inconsistent. And just a word about timing – the amount of time you may need for this step may vary depending on what personal work you’ve done in the past, how open you are to change, where you are working with a coach, lots of things. Just make sure it’s enough time to allow you to ask and answer those questions that will be most meaningful to your development.
2. Appraise the market and clarify your career goals and objectives. We’ve lost a lot of jobs over the past few years. As the economy comes back and jobs are once again created, be aware that the job requirements may not be the same as what they had been. As you do your research be on the look out for new skills, knowledge and abilities you may be required to have. Using your network to help you gather this data is an excellent idea, as well as utilizing all the information available on the internet.
3. Create a powerful resume and communications plan. Be consistent in the branding of your communication pieces. Consider your resume a work in progress. Get opinions on your resume from others. Really showcase what you have to offer and how you will solve problems, save money and improve efficiencies for the new organization. Sometimes that hard to do in no more than two pages. You may have to ask someone for help, or use on-line resources to assist you. Check out my resume worksheet as a template to help you.
4. Networking – build your skills and talents to reach out to everyone you know, and then everyone they know to learn of requirements and opportunities in those areas you are interested in. While working within an organization, network with co-workers in your department, but also across departments. Take every avenue to be visible. With the number of people currently looking for a job, many organizations will use the “informal” channel to look for qualified candidates. It’s more likely to be “who you know” that leads you to an opening, not a formal ad or internet posting. To help you organize your networking an approach like this might be helpful – click here.
5. Interviewing – remember it’s a conversation. Be prepared to answer their questions as well as ask your own about the things that are important to you – but don’t talk money and benefits until they are ready to offer you the job! And never be the one to bring the topic up. Practice sample questions out loud. If you don’t practice your presentation, they’ll know it the minute you open your mouth. This is also a point where you want to make sure your emotions are under control. You don’t want to sound desperate, or angry, or not sure of yourself. If you have recently lost a job, wait to interview until you have your emotions under control.
6. Efficient use of your resources – your time and energies are very important to you. Use all the job search avenues available to you, but don’t spend more time in any lane than the expected payback. Since 80% or more of the jobs being found today are through networking, spend 80%+ of your time in networking activities. Be careful with the amount of time you spend answering ads on the internet. Remember – not everything you read on the internet is “real”. Be careful about what personal information you share and post when you are not sure who may be viewing it, i.e., birth date, address, etc.
7. Continued Learning – I can’t say enough about investing in your education. Look at your co-workers. If your boss had to choose who to keep on the team, would you have more to offer than your colleagues? If you are up against one other qualified candidate for the job would your education and experiences be relevant enough to tip the decision in your favor? Certifications, additional course work, another degree, an unpaid internship, volunteering for an assignment…. there are lots of ways to take charge of your education and your future. Don’t wait until you need it – be aware of what your profession is requiring right now and start acquiring it.
Career development is definitely an individual responsibility. We do see progressive organizations offering guidance and help with career pathing. However, the ultimate decision about how you manage your career is up to you. Be proactive and invest in yourself. It’s a journey that keeps evolving from one destination to another. Be prepared. No one has a crystal ball to look into the future. Keep your bags packed, and always be aware of your options for exciting excursions!
What’s your experience been? Do you see the journey metaphor with these 7 these steps helpful, or would you make some modifications? I’m curious to hear from you.
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