Managing Your Career
I think we can all agree
that for today’s workforce, the concepts of retiring with a gold watch and a
comfortable pension after 30 years on the jobs have gone the way of the horse
and buggy. Where is the job security of yesteryear? I don’t
know. But what I do know is we all need to take charge of our
careers. Sound scary? Not really. Here are some guidelines to
help you manage your career for maximum results.
Don’t
Burn Bridges
Sounds obvious, right? Well, it should be
a no-brainer, yet too many of us have been guilty of it. Resist the urge
unload all of your pent up anger on the idiot in the next cubicle. He or
she may wind up being the project lead or the hiring manager at your dream
company.
If you are working with a recruiter, don’t
accept contract assignments or job offers and then back out at the last
minute. Think long and hard before you accept the offer if you aren’t
sure. Don’t be afraid to tell your recruiter that you are considering
other offers and you need to think it all through. It is far better to
take a little more time to think over the offer than to accept it and back out
later. Few recruiters will consider you for another position after you’ve
pulled a stunt like this. Also, keep in mind that recruiters do talk to
each other and word of a flaky candidate spreads quickly. The hiring
manager who you burned will also remember you and this may come back to haunt
you. And the memories will not be fond ones.
Don’t exaggerate your skills to get an
assignment. Even if you get the job, chances are your deception will be
uncovered. Do this and you will make an enemy of not only the person who
recommended you for the job (recruiter, colleague, friend, etc.) but also of
the hiring manager and other members of the project team who had to clean up
your mess.
Develop
Soft Skills
How are your
communication skills? Could they use some improvement? Many
positions require working with customers (both internal and external) and
almost all positions require you to communicate with your team members.
Improving your written and verbal communication skills could be a real boon to
your career.
Want to improve your
presentation skills? Conduct more effective meetings? Conquer your fear of
public speaking? Check out your local Toastmasters. www.toastmasters.org
It’s a wonderful organization with chapters nationwide, designed to help you
improve your communication skills.
Try to present a
positive face to the world. No one likes to work with a chronic sour puss
nor do we enjoy working with someone who constantly finds fault with
everything and everybody. Remember the old adage, if you can’t say
anything nice, don’t say anything at all.
Stay
Informed
Read the industry journals, attend seminars and
user groups. They can all be invaluable tools for keeping up with
industry trends and learning about the latest technologies.
Be a
Life Longer Learner
We’ve all heard about
the concept of life long learning. In the Information Technology and
Engineering fields failure to keep your skills current can spell disaster for
your career. If you are going to take charge of your career, you must keep
abreast of changing technologies.
Explore your choices for
continuing your education. Check out local universities, community
colleges and online courses. Check with your company’s human resources
department to see if they will reimburse you for these courses. Many User
Groups sponsor seminars and study groups designed to help members achieve
certification and improve their skills.
You
should also consider learning more about how your technical skills relate to
your company’s overall business. The trend is moving towards employers
preferring technical personal to have some knowledge of specific industries.
Learn
to Network
No, I’m not talking
about connecting computers and peripherals to each other. I mean meeting
people who can be of help to you and who you can help. I know it can be
scary to walk into a room of strangers and start talking to them. But,
networking can be a terrific tool in helping you uncover new
opportunities. You can start slowly, by talking to one or two people at
your next user group or technology seminar. Since you are all at the same
event, we can assume you have some common ground. It’s okay to let them
know that you are looking for a new job or your next contract. They may
have some leads for you. Similarly, if they are looking for work, you may
know some opportunities suitable for them (remember, networking is a 2-way
street!).
Explore social
networking sites. If you are not on LinkedIn (http://www.linkedin.com)
you should be. It’s a great place to connect with and keep in touch with people
who can really help your career. It’s free to join. Lots of recruiters
search the site for candidates. You can also search the jobs that are
posted on the site. Want to share your knowledge or opinion about a business
related subject? Check out LinkedIn Answers. It’s a great way to
get your name out in the community and help you establish yourself as an expert
on various topics. You will also want to check out Yahoo Groups (http://groups.yahoo.com)
This is a great place to find job listings and recruiters as well as job
hunting tips and places to list your resume.
Don’t limit your network
to people you meet at technology oriented events. The guy
with the bulldog at the dog park may be an HR manager. The lady with the
collie could be a project manager looking for another developer. They guy
in church who sings off key could be the vice president of engineering.
Countless jobs never reach the newspapers and job boards. They are filled
by referrals.
Keep
Your Resume Current
Did you just earn a new
certification? Earn an award for your stellar performance? Become employee of
the month? Bring a project in on time and under budget? These
accomplishments need to be on your resume. Even if you are not actively
looking a new job, you should get into the habit of recording your
accomplishments and milestones, so you don’t forget to include them in your
resume.
Job
Hunting
Don’t be lazy! Use
all available tools. Don’t just post your resume on one of the job boards
and wait for responses. Check out some of the niche job boards.
Look through the newspaper (yes, believe it or not, they still post jobs in
newspapers). Attend job fairs. A quick internet search will reveal
upcoming job fairs in your area. Register with several different staffing
firms. Let the people in your network know that you are looking for a
job. This way you will be able to pick and choose rather than just
settle for whatever comes your way.
Managing your career
will require some extra effort, but it is also very rewarding. Taking
charge of your career can provide you with a myriad of exciting opportunities
and the financial security that we all seek.