Working on your career - not just in it!
Thinking about career self reliance
The idea of 'working on' your career, at the same time that you're working in it is about
having a more intelligent (and proactive) career life. The mindset is simply this - If I'm
going to work so hard at my job, (and it seems that I am) I may as well put some work in up
front to make sure I'm getting the rewards I'm working for.
It's a little like planning a construction project. Experienced engineers know that the
hours put in up front (design & conceptualization) are the most valuable ones. The same
is true of your career. If you think of your career like a construction project - the
question is what do you want to build?
As you begin this deliberation and conceptualization, ask yourself the following questions:
1. Am I working for an organization that is watching my career & making sure I'm
getting the opportunities I need for my professional development?
2. Are they giving me the promotions & pay raises I deserve?
3. Are they making sure that my work is intellectually challenging & meaningful to me?
4. Are they tuned into my personal life? making sure I have time and energy for a
fulfilling personal life outside of work? Are they smart enough to care about this?
It should be no surprise that very few of our employers are taking care of our
careers in these ways - they never have. Once upon a time, they could be counted
on for long-term job security … but not any longer.
So here's the problem:
In the past it worked (at least in 1 way) to just put your head down, learn to
be a skilled professional and take the opportunities that others offered to
you - it worked to give you security.
But it didn't guarantee anything else - so things like fulfillment, a chance
to use your preferred skills, develop in an area that interested you or achieve
work- life balance were totally up to chance. And so, of course, these elements
rarely materialized. Most people ended up in an unfulfilling or frustrating job
in exchange for long-term security.
Today the question is - if there's no longer any long-term security, how can
I ensure my own employability
AND get all the other things I want from my career - like satisfaction & meaning?
And the answer is - by working on your career, taking charge, by being
(what I call) career self-reliant.
Being career self-reliant starts with believing that you are worthy of
meaningful work AND a fulfilling personal life - at the same time. This is
not just a privilege - it's what you expect. It means that you bring your
authentic self to work every day, that you refuse to hang up your personality
at door and that you are accepted for who you are (or you move on). Career
self-reliant people are engaged by their work - they feel stretched in a
positive way … and at the same time, they're looking ahead. They routinely
scan their work environment to make sure that their work is still giving
them what they want. If not - they take action and do what's necessary to
find & create work that plays to their talents and values.
How much does this describe you? How career self-reliant are you today? Here
are a few ideas to get you started on this mindset:
1. Think skills instead of job description - know the skills that make you
employable, focus on your preferred skills, learn to explain your special strengths
and talents - with examples from your work. To catalogue your skills check
out www.skillscan.net. ($15. US) … an excellent tool!
2. Reach out to others - get to know more people, get comfortable with
self-promotion. Let others know about your accomplishments and skills. Find
out their areas of expertise and keep in touch.
3. Find a mentor or role model - someone with more career savvy than
you - a previous manager, an external consultant, a professional colleague.
You need direction, advice and honest feedback. Step up and be a mentor - look
for capable candidates. Be generous.
4. Concentrate on communication - get to the point, grab your audience's attention,
tailor your message - without drowning them in details. Become a better listener - tune
into nonverbal clues and tone. Get good at speaking and writing clearly and
persuasively.
5. Keep learning - courses, conferences. Go back for your next degree during
economic lulls.
6. Bounce back - learn to accept disappointment and failure as well as success.
Deal honestly with setbacks and plan what to do differently next time. Be persistent.
7. Go global - think of your work locally, nationally and internationally. Keep up
with social and cultural trends. Cultivate other languages and get comfortable with
other cultures.
8. Become financially literate - save 10%, reduce your debt, and straighten out
your money so you can make career decisions based on your needs and desires - not
financial fear. Cultivate other sources of income as a fallback for career transitions
and difficult times.
9. Celebrate your success - set 'do-able' expectations. Think about what you've
achieved. You deserve to celebrate! Surround yourself with people who support you
and will celebrate with you.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
www.skillscan.net
www.careerpronews.com
How To Work a Room by Susan Roane (meeting people)
Fearless Interviewing by Marky Stein (skill based interviewing)
Handouts from this talk (available by email as Word documents).
- Professional Core Competencies (list)
- How Career Self-Reliant Are You? (quiz)
To request handouts: email irenegiesbrecht@telus.net
and type in 'request DAWEG handouts'.
|
