Career Development needs to be planned and each step connects to the next to work best →
Career Development Planning
Career development is the process of finding your footing in your professional life. This process involves assessing where you are now compared to where you want to be and creating a plan to get there.
It is the process of wanting a position and developing the skills, knowledge, and motivation to eventually pursue it. Sometimes, help in planning and gaining the skills comes from within a person's current employment. The first step is to have a written list of goals that are in sync in leading from the short-term steps to achieving the long-term goals.
The first step is to know what you want and then have some evidence that it will be something you could be happy and successful doing. To accomplish that, you must figure out what skills and circumstances will be needed if you achieve your goal. The second step will be to start a plan that will make you a good fit for your goal.
Start by listing what you enjoy doing in a work setting. Then, list your skills by drawing on all your past experiences. These lists need to be ranked from those you like best or are best at doing on the top to the least liked and skilled at.
The same approach can be used for other employment factors like salary, commute time, and work type, such as teams or working alone. When these are ranked with what you want most,t you will have three lists.
Finding the best career fit involves searching for jobs that fit the top preferences of each list. If you are missing an important skill or criteria, then working on those as short-term steps will be obvious.
Important Steps in the Process
Believe in Yourself
Never Stop Learning
Sharpen your People Skills
Expand your Network
Find a Mentor
Build your Reputation
Listen to the Marketplace and it will tell you what to do →
The Marketplace has a voice. Suppose you’re a Fortune 500 business, mid-size business, small or startup business, or even a sales manager, trying to find the most helpful thing you can say to excite the troops and point them in the right direction. In that case, the best answer is to listen to the marketplace.
Entrepreneurs listen to and know this voice better than anyone because it tells them what to do, where to do it, and when to move. It explains what the customer needs will be even before they are apparent to the customer. It answers what type of new business will succeed or what new, or even old, product will sell now.
Markets move and change rather than standing still, and sometimes, the change is business shrinking, crying out for change. Sometimes, it is expansion preceded by trends showing the direction. Fads can point to coming trends or just be short-lived: listen for both. You can change your order when the fad fades and gear up when the changes are trends.
When a trend intersects with changes in customer needs, an opportunity results; entrepreneurs have their ears close to the marketplace and often recognize first when to change their direction and take advantage of changes. They execute more often and are creative rather than just good listeners. Watching and listening to the entrepreneurs might be a solution if you can't hear the marketplace. One question to ask yourself about the market is if your customers have other supplies who are entrepreneurs and may be closer to the marketplace’s needs.
Large and small businesses, sales departments, and leaders can listen and see where the marketplace is telling them to go. All will benefit by listening, mastering the ability to read between the lines, and picking up on the unspoken clues that hint at a larger story.
Augmented Reality →
Augmented Reality (AR) is an enhanced version of the physical world achieved through digital visual elements, sound, or other sensory stimuli delivered via technology.
It is a growing trend among companies involved in mobile computing and business applications in particular. an experience where designers enhance parts of users' physical world with computer-generated input.
Designers create inputs—ranging from sound to video, to graphics to GPS overlays and more—in digital content, which respond in real-time to changes in the user's environment, typically movement.
Is “Creating Meaning” a Solution for Job Burnout →
A lot of talk about the #GreatResignation and reporting on the people who have, or want to, resign from their jobs and try something else. The reasons for this seem to include boredom at work, anxiety, fatigue, depression, frustration, difficulty concentrating, lack of creativity, and loss of trust.
These same reasons are also symptoms of job burnout. Maybe all this hype about the great resignation is just using a new label for an old problem brought out by the very stressful last year, plus the Pandemic?
I was talking with an old friend about his successful career, and he told me that he felt his longevity in the industry was seen as a negative, not as a positive, by some in the industry, and he had begun to think it was true. I had to ask myself why this could be. He and others should view his vast experience as “added wisdom” gained by trial and error.
His viewpoint spoke loudly to his “Burnout,” but is that really what years of work have to lead to? The dictionary definition of burnout is “the end of the powered stage in a rocket’s flight when the propellant has been used up.” With people, a lot of energy pursuing various goals is used up, and when people are burned out, they feel somewhat used up and complacent. You can hear the burnout in someone saying, “We tried that once before, and it didn’t work, so it won’t work now.”
My friend worked in the food service industry, and like many industries, it is dynamic: customer preferences change. That should present challenges and opportunities to all of us, “forcing us to rethink what we “always knew.” My advice to my friend was this, "you need to become a student of your industry.” Think of new approaches or new ways to use old products and concepts. This will provide you with renewed energy. As a veteran, you shouldn’t worry about making a mistake. I told him that you, of all people, should know that a failure or setback becomes an opportunity.
When worrying about burnout, we should stop thinking about the past and look to the future. As a business analyst and author, Peter Drucker has said, "The best way to predict the future is to create it."
Recently on the 14th of this month, 2021, Yahoo News article titled "The Great Resignation," Erica Pandey notes that many workers (upwards of 40%) are considering quitting their jobs.
The article suggests that workers have had time to reconsider their work-life balance and career paths during the pandemic, and as the world reopens, they may make the changes they've been dreaming about. The World Economic Forum adds that a hybrid in-person and remote work model could help maintain balance, but employers need to do more to support their employees.
The article also cites a new Microsoft survey that found 41% of workers globally are considering resigning. As a career coach with years of experience, I agree that changing careers can be costly, and it's essential to find where your skills and experience fit before quitting your current job. It's also necessary to use tools like the "Informational Interview" and LinkedIn to find job opportunities while still working.
Before starting your search, I recommend reading a good book on job search strategies, like the one I wrote and published in September 2020, Work Matter, which is still relevant and can help you navigate the recent economic changes.
Holistic Career Development: Is this just a new HR Buzzword? →
Holistic is the “comprehension of the parts of something as intimately interconnected and explicable only by reference to the whole.
Treating the whole person, including mental and social factors, rather than just addressing the symptoms of a disease is what is meant by the term "holistic." Health care involves caring for the mind, body, and soul, recognizing that understanding the parts of something requires viewing them as a whole.
This approach is similar to Michelangelo's method of carving figures in marble. He believed that the figures were already present and merely chipped away the excess to reveal them. Likewise, if someone struggles to find the right career, it may be because they need to delve deeper to uncover their fundamental skills and interests. By doing so, they can reveal their authentic self, which can help them to find a fulfilling career.
A successful career is a good match for both the company and the employee. Companies are now making more of an effort to evaluate potential employees holistically, looking beyond their skill set to determine what they are happiest doing. It is essential to consider how a particular job will impact a person's physical, mental, emotional, and social well-being, both for the individual and the company. Finding meaningful work creates a sense of connection and purpose
Holistic development in children and adults means developing their intellectual, mental, physical, emotional, and social abilities to meet everyday life's demands and challenges. Parents have always worked to develop their children into well-rounded human beings, but some employers are beginning to embrace these ideas. While skill and job match are essential for success in any field, labeling this approach "holistic" has become a buzzword of the day.
Start Looking For Your Next Job While Your Still Employed, Now More than Ever →
According to the latest available public survey data (2019), the average person changes jobs 12 times in their lifetime. Employees don’t expect their jobs to last longer, and today’s employers often didn’t see their employees as lifelong commitments even before the pandemic hit.
COVID-19, a formidable challenge that officially arrived in the United States in February 2020, sparked a significant shift in the expected direction of the economy. Despite the unprecedented highs and lows of unemployment during the Pandemic months of 2020 and 2021, the workforce has shown remarkable resilience. We have witnessed unexpected change happen at an unprecedented pace, a testament to our collective strength and adaptability.
If you have survived so far and are employed, should you still should start looking for what your next job may need to be now? Even if your skills are a good fit for the current position and your employer and supervisor both see you as an excellent long-term fit, it would be wise to look, especially since the effects of the pandemic are still unclear. Of course, if you are still employed and your job seems secure, it is an excellent time to put in extra hours and do more than required. Make yourself the last one they would want to lose.
Traditionally, most job seekers have been passive, a strategic approach that allows for thorough research and networking. This method provides the luxury of time to be selective, ensuring the best match for your skills and strengths, and even uncovering jobs that aren't yet listed. It's a powerful position to be in, one that empowers you to make informed decisions about your career.
Potential employers, for the same reasons as you, want to find strong candidates whose experience, strengths, and skills match up with the job description, and often, they take their time passively looking. Good companies know that suitable matches result in motivated, happy employees who help build the company, so it pays to take some time with this decision. Use the time that you're employed to look at yourself and be honest about your strengths, abilities, and what you enjoy. The dividend you will gain is better job satisfaction and a better fit in the job you find.
According to LinkedIn, 70% of the global workforce is passive talent, with the remaining 30% actively seeking jobs. Potential employers often see the passive-skilled candidates who are employed as more vital potential employees who are still valued by their past employer, not someone who was pushed out and considered weaker. As unfair as this is, being in a position where you don’t have to make an offer is an advantage.
Employers will generally bend to reach out for someone with the best job skills, experience, and knowledge, so find the best matches and be sure your resume shows skills and strengths that match those asked for on the job listing.
Unemployed candidates can easily seem too eager to sell their experience and skills, even in some cases when they aren't the best match. Passion and excitement displayed for the new job can be misinterpreted as just needing a career rather than a genuine belief that a real contribution can be made.
Being actively employed not only keeps you in regular contact with your network but also provides more timely and accessible information about changes in the marketplace. This sense of security and confidence can be a significant advantage in your job search, allowing you to make informed decisions and stay ahead of the curve.
A poor hiring decision is a costly mistake for the employer and employee, so both sides will likely take some time to research.
When looking for a job look first for the right people then the right job →
"Opportunities do not float like clouds in the sky. They're attached to people. If you're looking for an opportunity, you're looking for a person." – Ben Casnocha.
Job sites, recruitment consultants, CVs / résumés, and Google all have their uses in your career change. But they're not the place to start.
Focus instead on connecting with people.
The power of being in front of people is to present the whole you – something a CV or résumé can't do.
I'm an introvert. So, you won't find me exuberantly working a room at a networking event. But I am comfortable meeting people one-on-one or having phone calls.
So that's what I did – and with a whole set of people whose roles interested me.
It took time. As I explained above, there were many 'dead ends,’ but ultimately, it led me to a role in a field I didn't even know existed.
More than that, this approach meant I avoided the ruthless filtering that happens with conventional job applications.
I wasn't 'qualified' to work in the social start-up I fell in love with. But I had a ton of enthusiasm and a willingness to learn. That was never going to come across on my CV or résumé.
I didn't get the job there through a formal application. I got it because I built relationships with people in the organization. I did some pro-bono work, which led to consultancy work and an interview for a full-time job.
If you're curious, I had the worst interview of my life for that role. I so wanted the job that my brain froze; I stumbled through the questions and left thinking I'd blown it. Catastrophic. Or it might have been, had that been my first interaction with the team. But it wasn't, and I still got the job because of the strengths of the relationships I'd built.
Remember: people first, jobs second.
Searching for and learning about job titles can help you →
The places where you can search for job titles for a job search can be a surprise. If you spend a lot of time advising people on Career Development, as I have, you are probably always on alert for something that would help job seekers in their job search.
Between 5 and 10 years ago, I had three heart attacks, which led to recently going for a Nuclear Stress Test at the hospital. They injected a radioactive fluid into my veins so they could watch what happens after a bit of exercise as the liquid goes through your body. This tells if everything is working the way it should.
It had been five years since I had taken this test before, so I was surprised to learn that exercise needed to increase pressure is no longer the result of a treadmill but induced with some chemicals. The test and required a waiting period that took a few hours.
I went through a full body scanner at the beginning and again at the end of the process. Helping me at the scanner was the job of a particular young man, and I asked him, “what is your job title”? He said he was a nuclear technician. I also asked if he liked the job, and he said he did and that it beat hauling shingles up a ladder to the roof, which was his last job. When I got home, I was curious to learn more about what it takes to be a Nuclear Medicine Technologist. I knew it usually requires an associate degree from an accredited nuclear medicine technology program and certification.
I also asked about the job title of the young lady who assisted with the stress preparations. I learned that she was a Cardiology Technician and found that this job aids physicians in diagnosing and treating heart, lung, and blood vessel disorders.
This experience was a new twist on what I had been telling people for years about LinkedIn. My advice to job searchers is to go in on LinkedIn and find the company they are invited to talk to, then find the person they would work for if they were hired, and study their profile and note their title. Doing that gives some insight into who you will be interviewed with and even can help with conversations.
Another thing it does is show you what that person did in their previous job and what title that job had. Since that person would potentially be in the potential position of being the candidate’s next supervisor, it can be assumed that their last job may be one they could also qualify for. They can learn how to search for a job they may not have previously known existed.
Seeking out job titles can help you understand the job market, and as I found out, it can be a way to add some knowledge while waiting for a body scan.
The first step in Networking starts by establishing a single point of common ground, →
The first step in Networking starts by establishing a single point of common ground with a contact. This will require you to be curious and ask questions. You will have to listen closely and identify where you have agreements. You may find answers to things but you need to provide value and learn what your contact values. A network must survive to be of real value.
Finding new contacts expands your circles of acquaintances and as you try to be a help to others your awareness of changes in your areas of influence and trends increases.
Connections are made between individuals, of course, but also for and on behalf of companies and organizations. Often, groups serve as idea centers, with all parties interacting for the mutual benefit of the entire group.
Our comfort level often favors networks of connections with people we know and like who have similar backgrounds and points of view, but this type of closed network limits our exposure and limits opportunities to find new connections and ideas. Seek new groups where most of those in the group are people you do not know at first. A person does not have to be a friend to be a professional contact.
Ask those already in your network for names of contacts for specific needs. Who in your own network knows somebody at a company you want to learn more about? When you need a name for an “informational interview,” the best contacts are often found by asking those already in your network for suggestions. Telling a contact that a mutual relation suggested you make the contact is a powerful point of common ground.
Whether you are just applying for a job, just seeking information, or making contact with the HR department or a department head, it is always better to be introduced to the company, even if it is just you telling them that so and so suggested you make contact.
Finally, while considering networking strategies, heed Eleanor Roosevelt’s words:
“Never allow a person to tell you no if they do not have the power to say yes.”
I like this quote because it shows a meaningful way to think about networking and illustrates an important principle. If you are asking people to hire you or to help you in your job search and they are not in a position to actually do so, you’ve probably done a poor job of networking.
Volunteering isn't the easy networking opportunity it is often presented to be. →
Volunteer work isn’t the easy networking opportunity it is often presented to be. When you study options for effective networking, you often find headlines like this one: “Volunteer Work opens networking opportunities.” The belief is that volunteering can help you gain experience in your industry and meet people who have the inside track on local job openings in your field. It seems logical that in some segments, volunteering can work to expand contacts. Companies often commit to community projects and ask their employees to consider volunteering, which is an excellent opportunity to show company spirit and make new connections. Sometimes, in the medical professions, help for special projects is sought by asking the community to volunteer, and they can be networking opportunities.
Even with these examples, I have always been skeptical of the real opportunities to get meaningful job experience and exposure through volunteer work, so I asked Cheryl Doerfler Lake, a Human Resource Consultant at Doerfler Lake Consulting in Utah, what she thought. Her answer was very helpful. Cheryl, answering my question, said: “This is a delicate area but has been made a bit easier since the Trump administration has “relaxed”, some of the work rules. The difficulty for the company is making sure that you aren’t using unpaid volunteers to do the same work as paid employees (similar rules apply for “unpaid interns”), as that has the appearance of the company exploiting people. For example, docents at zoos, museums, parks, etc. have a different role than the employees, plus the rules for “non- profits” are much looser than “for profit” companies. It is highly unlikely a “for profit” can legally let you “volunteer” as anything. However, they might let you “job shadow” for a day or so, or even a week to get a sense of what a person doing that job does regularly. This is what “take your daughter to work” day has been about.”
These next few items Cheryl was able to add from other sources and experiences, and with her strong background in Human Resources, I knew the information would help, and it also seemed perfect for my concerns and questions. “She said that she felt the “legalese” about volunteers was useful from “The Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). It broadly defines employment, i.e., “to suffer or permit to work.” However, the Supreme Court has clarified that the FLSA was not intended “to stamp all persons as employees who without any express or implied compensation agreement might work for their advantage on the premises of another.” In administering the FLSA, the Department of Labor follows this judicial guidance regarding individuals serving as unpaid volunteers in various community services. Individuals who volunteer or donate their services, usually part-time, for public service, religious or humanitarian objectives, not as employees and without contemplation of pay, are not considered employees of the religious, charitable or similar non-profit organizations that receive their service.” For example, members of civic organizations may help out in a sheltered workshop; men’s or women’s organizations may send members or students into hospitals or nursing homes to provide certain personal services for the sick or elderly; parents may assist in a school library or cafeteria as a public duty to maintain effective services for their children, or they may volunteer to drive a school bus to carry a football team or school band on a trip. Similarly, an individual may volunteer to perform such tasks as driving vehicles or folding bandages for the Red Cross, working with disabled children or disadvantaged youth, helping in youth programs as camp counselors, scoutmasters, den mothers, providing child care assistance for needy working mothers, soliciting contributions or participating in benefit programs for such organizations and volunteering other services needed to carry out their charitable, educational, or religious programs.” “Under the FLSA, employees may not volunteer services to for-profit private sector employers. On the other hand, in most circumstances, individuals can volunteer services to public sector employers. When Congress amended the FLSA in 1985, it made clear that people are allowed to volunteer their services to public agencies and their community with but one exception - public sector employers may not allow their employees to volunteer, without compensation, additional time to do the same work for which they are employed. There is no prohibition on anyone employed in the private sector from volunteering in any capacity or line of work in the public sector.” More can be learned about independent contractors and trainees (including School-to-Work programs) from the various internet sites on the FLSA.”
My initial conclusion has stayed the same. I think it is a little misleading to find volunteering listed as a key networking direction to pursue when looking for a job. It does have some value, but it also brings some challenges.
Why Passive Job Seekers have big advantages in finding jobs →
Bullseye on Passive Job Seeker
Before we proceed, some basic insights regarding active vs. passive job seekers. An active job seeker is someone who is either unemployed or unhappily employed and actively conducting a search for a new position. A passive job seeker is someone who is not actively looking to move companies, either because they’re happy in their current role or just because they haven’t thought about it.
You’re employed, so why should you start looking for a job now? If your skills are a good fit for the job you currently have, and if you, your employer, and your supervisor all see you as a long-term good fit, then you probably don’t need to answer this question, but that doesn’t mean that job options might not find you. If you see the need for a change coming, even if it is not for a while, then there are many very good reasons to start a passive job search now.
According to LinkedIn, 70% of the global workforce is made up of passive talent who are not actively job searching, and 87% of all the active and passive candidates are open to new job opportunities.
Employers assume if a job seeker is already employed, they must have the skills, experience, and drive to be employable. It is easier to find a job when you already have one, so allowing yourself to be open to new career possibilities without truly job searching is a talent worth developing. Employers will reach out for someone that they believe as a candidate would have the best job skills, experience, and knowledge, so it will be especially valuable to be sure your resume shows skills and strengths that match those asked for on the job listings in the areas that would be of interest.
An employer sometimes assumes that unemployed candidates are too eager and become skeptical of their experience and skills. The passion and excitement of those candidates can be misinterpreted as just needing a job rather than a genuine belief that a real contribution can be made.
A passive job search employee should be aware of their next job and should be sure they cover their bases.
Continually look within your own company.
Even if you see jobs posted that you need to gain the qualifications fo, you will learn through the posting what you will need to add to your own profile and skills if those jobs catch your interest. Make sure your supervisor knows that you want to advance your career.
When not actively job searching, delete your old posted resumes.
The work you did to get your current job may still be out there, posted in various places. You want your current job to clearly show you in place. Take down your old resumes from online and job boards. If you have old resumes floating around cyberspace on job boards, now is the time to remove them.
Refresh your LinkedIn profile
A passive job search seeks to find the candidate. Whether you are actively job searching or doing so passively, build a solid LinkedIn profile and keep it updated. A great LinkedIn profile is the best means of “being found” in the job market.
Build your network when you do not need to.
Networking at social events, work gatherings, seminars, trade shows, or anywhere you might meet potential employers is an opportunity to build a professional network. Find ways to connect, retweet, follow, and interact with top talent using Facebook, Twitter, and other relevant social spaces.”
At company events, listen to the talk and buzz in the other departments regarding expansion plans. do whatever you can to connect, retweet, and interact with top talent via Facebook, Twitter, and other relevant social spaces.”
Informational interviews.
Seeking out informational interview opportunities to just learn while employed, learning new things yourself as well as things that can benefit your current employer. Again, look at your personalized list of network contacts and look up the companies online that you are interested in.
Pay it forward
Be active on LinkedIn and other social networks. Recognize accomplishments. Make positive comments. Keep your name in front of your followers and communicate with those already in your network when you see something of interest to them.
Value, Principles, Work Ethics all must connect for best results. →
Professional ethics and human values, “Work Ethics,” are the principles you apply to yourself and take with you to the job.
One good example of principles that can lead to success and happiness is the Boy Scout law.
A Boy Scout is: Trustworthy, Loyal, Helpful, Friendly, Courteous, Kind, Obedient, Cheerful, Thrifty, Brave, Clean, & Reverent.
These are the principles of the law but are also rooted in the values, sometimes called standards, that govern the behavior of a man or woman and all of their actions. The main difference between values and principles is that principles are based on a person's values, and a particular value may have several principles tied to it. Thus, it is values that act as the foundation for principles.
Start with good values. If your values and principles don’t fit into an organization, move on. Albert Einstein said: Strive not to be a success, but rather to be of value. Tolstoy suggested that who we are is the essence of life. Finding meaning is no small task. Tolstoy’s and Einstein’s thoughts seem to point to the fact that our values determine what kind of success we will have and if it will bring us happiness.
Top 12 best Networking Contacts: For your Career and for your Job Search →
Make a list of the contacts that make up your professional network. Categorize the list into top 12, Top Tier, Middle Tier and Bottom Tier. Decide as to how often you will contact the people in each of these categories each year. Lunch or social contact, calls, emails, online connections, personal visits, letters or even Christmas cards, and the planned frequency. Ensure that your contact is one of value for your contact.
When you do need help let your contacts know and thank them whenever they offer help or advice. Stay in regular contact.
Top 12 best Network Contacts:
1.Mentors.
2.Coaches
3. Previous co-workers
4. Previous co-workers who left months back
5. Supervisors
6. Recruiters who are market experts
7. Company Suppliers
8. Company key Customers
9. Company Competitor
10. Industry Trade Association Contacts
11. Industry Leaders
12. LinkedIn Contacts
Link to the article below for a more detailed look at this subject
Who should be in your professional network
Who should be in your professional network? →
The desire to connect with people who are important to you runs deep, even beyond the living. This explains why genealogy is one of the top two hobbies in the United States after gardening. Connecting and organizing our living connections should be at least as important, but formalizing the findings is too often just not done.
Having a list of contacts, especially professional ones, becomes critical when it becomes time to look for a new job, and for almost every worker, that time comes more often than expected. People no longer work for one company for their whole career, retiring after 50 years with a pension and a gold watch. The US Department of Labor Bureau of Labor Statistics says that an individual may change jobs 12 times in their career.
The impact of the Pandemic is going to be a tipping point in how searching for a job will be in the future, and the past statistics will not do justice to what the average worker will face in coming years. Currently, 85% of jobs are found through networking, so it seems clear that if not now, eventually, the process of developing and making a list of names for a professional network will need to be done.
Forward-thinking employees will keep track of their coworkers, supervisors, senior managers, industry leaders, and people who have made an impression on them all through their careers. We can find these names and contacts easily in our address books, and day planners in most cases. Once we have a written list, we should actively decide who we want to invest in to build a long-term relationship categorize the list to the top, middle, and lower tiers and then focus on developing those relationships. You'll need to work to establish yourself as a good contact as well.
The top category will be your most influential group, maybe your top 10. These are people we contact consistently a few times a year, in person, by email, or in other ways. When we invest in them, we ensure we are not forgotten because we pay it forward by being a good contact for them. Co-workers, supervisors, customers, suppliers, and competitors are key names for your Professional Network.
As we go through the day, when some interesting fact or observation comes to our attention that makes us think of one of these contacts, we can email or call them. Following up and reaching out reminds your professional contact of you and your skills. Ask about them when you do this and commit to your professional relationship investment. Be a contact worth having for those you value.
Acquaintances and Friends can be in the second group of prioritized contacts. Some from this group may even be on the Christmas Card list. They are important contacts maintained at a different level from the top 10 or 20 groups. This list could include past and present family, friends, neighbors, church friends, and coworkers.
Unless you are at the entry-level of your work, then your career value is related to your past work experience. If you are busy wishing you could start your career in a different direction, you are likely in for some disappointments. The work-related network contacts will be able to see you best about what you have done.
Pick people for your contact lists who inspire you and whom you admire. Even in a professional network where we have chosen the people we want to stay in touch with over the years, it is possible to have unhealthy relationships that hurt us. Our lives are happier, healthier, and even longer when we have close, solid, and positive relationships. Pick people you have learned from, and when reaching out to those on your lists or anyone, be positive and don’t invite negativity. Everyone who you receive contact from deserves a thank you and some feedback. Some first-time contacts will be ones you will want to add to your permanent professional network.
Face-to-face old-fashioned networking is better than emails. If you genuinely like people and the feeling comes naturally to you, then you already know how to network and are most likely already a part of a network. Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, written back in October 1936, included a list of “Six Ways to Make People Like You.” He states that becoming genuinely interested in other people is the key: “You can make more friends in two months by being interested in them than in two years by making them interested in you.”
In addition, while being interested in others is important, you ought to value and treasure those relationships. If you believe, as I do, that the only thing you will take with you or at least have at the end of your life is your knowledge and relationships, then it will be easy. Carnegie’s other five suggestions were to smile, remember the person’s name, be a good listener, talk about the other person’s interests, and make the other person feel important. When we are both good listeners and genuinely like people, others will respond better to us.
Sooner or late, we will need to reach out to our professional network, and these thoughts are not intended to suggest that the process is a manipulation. Trust will not exist if your motives are suspect and not sincere. If you don’t really value the relationships your contacts with them can backfire on you instead.
Everyone we meet is part of our life network. Still, the professional networking I refer to here includes those we turn to when we change jobs or seek information about our professional interests.
Click below for Top12 best Network Contacts
Focus on Skills, Instead of a Profession →
Focus on your skills rather than on your profession or even your industry. With an uncertain job market, you must take a skill inventory to understand your soft and hard skills, as well as transferable skills. Some of your skills will likely need to be polished and updated, and if you have studied your industry, including the competitors, suppliers, customers, and trends, it will be clear that some new skills will need to be added.
Hard skills are those that will be needed when you make a job change. These skills are teachable, if not through on-the-job training, then through study and training.
Some examples of Hard Skills:
Computer Technology, Data Analysis.
Certifications and Licenses. Writing
Marketing, Accounting
Project Management, Legal
Design & Cloud Computing.
Soft skills are the abilities that make you a good employee, such as etiquette, communication, listening, and getting along with other people. Calling these skills “soft” suggests that they are natural and can not be learned, but that isn’t true. They can be taught and are essential skills.
Examples of Soft Skills:
Communication Skills.
Problem Solving Skills.
Leadership Skills, Teamwork.
Emotional Intelligence.
Adaptability & Work Ethic.
Transferable Skills help make industry changes.
Transferable skills are skills you acquire during your education, internships, or work experience and bring with you to future employment settings. They offer candidates and employers the following benefits: flexibility, diversity, portability, and employability.
Including transferable skills on a resume is especially important for individuals who are changing job titles or who are moving to different fields altogether. It is also critical for recent college graduates. Soft skills can also be included with transferable skills.
Transferable Skills Examples
Computer experience, Management experience
Language Proficiency, Typing, Customer service
Written and verbal, Communication, Problem-solving
Organizational skills, Speaking Effectively
Writing concisely, Listening attentively
Expressing ideas, Facilitating group discussion
Negotiating and understanding nonverbal messages
Persuading others, Reporting information, Interviewing
Editing, Research, and Planning.
Human Relations, Management and Leadership
Work Ethic, Data experience, Creativity
Having a job is critical, but things change, and often, a job cannot be counted on. Skills are usually transferable to the next job, and because of that, they may be more critical over the long run than the job or industry you have always relied on.
Everyone brings some skills to the job, but now is always the right time to consider preparing for the next layoff, the next job, and the impact of the economic changes.
Skills development involves identifying your skill gaps and developing and honing these skills. Focusing on this will be essential to making the most of the shifting times ahead in the job market because your skills determine your ability to make job changes when needed and to execute your plans successfully.
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Fight Burnout: Become a Student of Your Industry Again →
Workplace burnout manifests as a lack of enthusiasm and engagement, lower productivity, and job dissatisfaction. If you want to be a better communicator and continue to innovate, you will not be successful if you suffer workplace burnout, and the reasons have some value to both needs.
It is not unusual to find that people looking for a job seem burned out about what they have spent years doing. They often ask for help in making a career change, and in most cases, when they realize that their worth in the job market is determined most by what they have been doing. They then understand how much of a pay cut making an industry change, for the sake of boredom or burnout, would cost them they get over that idea and start to understand the roadblocks they had created for themselves to change.
An example came when I talked with an old friend about his successful food service career. I have always admired this friend’s success. He had started with a small fast-food drive-in outlet and expanded it to a small chain. He had opened many new dining concepts and was considered an innovator. As I mentioned these successes, he told me that he now felt his longevity in the industry and past successes were then seen as a negative, not as a positive, by some in the industry because he had been around for so long and he was old news.
Rather than taking pride in all that he had done, he said he felt trapped by the past, feeling his efforts to find new ideas just resulted in what were dated ideas. His response to his failed efforts was boredom, and his claim seemed to be just a deflection from the real problem of outdated ideas.
His past experiences had led to success, but the process always included reading, listening to the market, trying something new, and then learning and trying again. His wisdom had come from trial and error, which he saw as a core value of being a true entrepreneur. The same processes he had used would still work, but he had to listen to the market he was in and see what his voice suggested. Expecting the past to tell you what to do today is not enough and is acrucialy indicator o burnout.
Finding the correct next step takes more than a gut reaction. It includes reading everything you can about your work and skills and talking to everyone in the same industries and marketplace, including those who supply, sell, and compete. My friend’s pride in being an entrepreneur had overshadowed what it takes to learn and excel. Expecting the past to the past to tell you what to do today is not enough and is a crucial indicator of being burned out.
Like many industries, the restaurant business is dynamic, and customer preferences change, forcing the rethinking of what we “always knew.” I told my friend that he needed to become a student of his industry again and think of new approaches or new ways to use old products and concepts. When you set out to learn something, renewed energy follows. Industry veterans often struggle to admit they can still remember, but their past should validate that a failure or setback becomes an opportunity. Of course, my friend already knew that, or he would not have had the successful career that he had, but he needed to be reminded that the process of finding new approaches had not changed.
One definition of burnout is “the end of the powered stage in a rocket’s flight when the propellant has been used up.” People like the rocket use a lot of energy pursuing various goals, and when they are burned out, they can feel used up and complacent. Burnout is also blamed on job stress, which affects an individual’s physical and emotional state and causes mental exhaustion.
When employees burnout, they lose relevance to their employers. No matter where you fit in an organization, there is value in being a student of your industry.
When we see changes coming, you can take steps to learn new things, but you need to be sure your management knows what you are doing.
"The best way to predict the future is to create it.” - Peter Drucker
Core Values for a company must be in aligned with the employees values to be effective →
Core values are the fundamental beliefs of a person and also an organization. These guiding principles are deeply ingrained that dictate and guide behavior and can also help people understand the difference between right and wrong.
When personal values align with the company's core values, employees are happier and more inspired to do their job. They feel motivated to complete the task at hand because they know that their contribution has a positive impact on the overall success of the company.
Core values ( guiding principles ) also help companies to determine if they are on the right path and fulfilling their goals by creating an unwavering guide to refer to.
Examples of Core Values
Dependability - Reliability.
Loyalty - Commitment.
Open-mindedness - Consistency.
Honesty - Efficiency.
Search for jobs at companies that align with the type of work you want to do, culture you want to be in and mission you want to work toward.
You should do company research conducting informational interviews to learn and understand that the company’s core values are compatible with your own.
Preparing for your Informational Interview →
An important part of your job search will be having Informational Interviews where you will be able to meet with potential employers and leaders in your industry in a more relaxed conversational approach to learn about their company and the culture. In this approach you learn about potential companies and can ask for advice without making yourself look weak.
One job seeker I am familiar with identified the person in his own industry that he admired the most and that had the job he would like to get someday. He set up a meeting with this individual and told him that he admired his work and would like someday to have a job like his, and then asked for advice on the steps to take in his upcoming job change and career that would lead him in the right direction.
In an informational interview, job seekers can be unemployed, or else employed considering new options. They use the interview to gather information on the field and on specific companies where they might want to work.
When an informational interview is set up it important to go prepared knowing in advance what it is you want to learn about and what questions you want to ask.
Learn who the right person to talk to is first, and then learn as much as you can about that person and the role that person has in the organization. Check their LinkedIn profile before the meeting. Do some research on the industry and company.
Look professional when you meet. Leave a business card. If you’re not employed have a professional business card with your name and contact information made up at the local printer. They are not expensive.
Make an appointment. Keep your meeting short and remember to smile. Restate your objective of just learning and seeking information. Follow up expressing your gratitude with a thank you note
Some Questions that can be asked
What are your, or the target jobs, main responsibilities?
What Skills are the most import in the job of interest
What is a typical day (or week) like for you?
What do you like most about your work?
What do you like least about your work?
What kinds of problems do you deal with?
What kinds of decisions do you make?
