Wow! It’s been a long time since I posted. We are busy getting the new website up and rolling. Check us out at Career Crossroads.
I’ll be back at it again next week, but in the meantime, here’s an article that was sent to me about recession-proofing your career. See if it makes sense for you. http://www.bankaholic.com/579/recession-proof-careers/
My mother used to caution me about the people I hung out with. If their character was “questionable,” she would warn me that I was destined to become like them — because our friends, and those we spend time with make an impression on our own character. I used to think she was just being a “naggy-old-mom”, but then I realized she was right! Our friends DO influence who we become!
If that’s true for you, then the question is: “are you spending enough time with the people you want to become?” If you are an Architect you need to spend time with others who share your passion for drafting and building buildings. If you are a marketing professional, you should spend time around other marketing professionals. If you are an engineer you will want to be around people who speak your same language and read the books, articles and blogs you need to read in order to grow in your professionalism.
But what if you are new to the profession and you know only a few people in your field? Where can you go to find others? Where do people in your field hang out and how can you meet them?
One of the best ways to meet people in your specific field is through a professional organization. Most professions have them. In fact, some require membership in order to maintain a license or qualify for career advancement. I recommend you find out which ones are most important to your field by talking to someone who has been in that profession for longer than 10 years. Another option is to conduct a web search to find out what is available. Most groups will allow you to sign up through their website and many have student rates if you are still in school or a recent graduate. A lot of these professional organizations hold monthly events, and some have smaller group sessions for networking and professional development. You will also find that most of them have a job board of some sort for people in your field who are looking to make a career change.
A great way to make a name for yourself in your profession is to volunteer in your professional organization! In every organization their is an 80/20 rule at work — 20 percent of the people do 80 percent of the work. You can take advantage of the 80/20 rule by volunteering. Being part of the 20 percent will put you front and center of the organization where you will meet important leaders, other professionals, and potential employers. YOU should be part of the 20!
There are many reasons to join a professional organization: you will brand yourself as a professional in your field, you will grow in your knowledge and skill-set, and you will meet some people who could influence the direction of your career.
Have you seen the TV commercial where the guy volunteers for EVERY trip outside of the office offered by his boss? Nobody else wants to do the work. Nobody else wants to take the trips. Everybody is happy doing “just the bare minimum” to collect their paycheck. Our “hero” travels all over the US visiting customer after customer. . . and racking up his frequent flier miles. At the end of the commercial the boss opens his door and calls the hero’s name, but he is not there. We are led to think that he has gone off on another business trip, burdened by the challenges of face-to-face meetings with difficult customers. We soon see, however, that our hero has cashed in his frequent flier miles to go on a vacation . . . in the middle of winter!
There are many reasons why volunteering will put you in a favorable position for great job perks. Racking up frequent flier miles is only one of them.
When you volunteer you are putting yourself in the spotlight. You will allow your boss (and her boss) to see you hard at work solving one of her biggest problems. That’s got to be an endearing opportunity! If you are thinking like your boss (Tip #4), you will soon determine that the employees who help her alleviate her biggest problems are also the ones who will receive her highest praises. You WANT that kind of attention! It’s a good thing.
Make sure the volunteer opportunities get reflected into your personnel file and are mentioned in your Annual Review. This will show favorably the next time you apply for a promotion. It also may be cause for different departments to “bid” for you when they have openings. Managers don’t want people who just show up and do the minimum required work. They want team members who are willing and able to help them achieve their business goals. Give them what they want, and they will give you what you want. It’s called “The Law of Reciprocity,” and it’s one of Brian Tracy’s unbreakable laws.
The next time he next time your boss asks for a volunteer, DO IT. It’s an action that could follow you around for a long time (in a good way), and something that will likely lead to some great opportunities for your career growth.
