With 2018 in full swing, I’m getting calls from people acting on resolutions to kick start their career. Some are looking to make a change, trying to figure out how best to transition into something different and more challenging, while others are trying to gain traction in their job search. With this in mind, here are a few key ideas to consider.
Make yourself stand out in the crowd!
When it comes to marketing yourself, highlight your accomplishments, not your responsibilities! In an economy where competition is fierce, you need to differentiate yourself to get noticed. Take a look at your resume, your LinkedIn profile and any other tools you use to brand yourself – do they list your job responsibilities in a predictable, boring kind of way? Instead, highlight what you did REALLY WELL, what you accomplished on your employer's behalf. Quantify it as best you can, and explain the IMPACT it had. This is far more interesting to an employer than rattling off your day to day responsibilities, and can help them connect the dots between the challenges they are having, and how you can provide a solution. Here’s a great article from Forbes that has some tips on how to incorporate your successes.
Mix it up - step outside your comfort zone
Don’t be afraid to commit to something, even if it’s a little outside your professional ‘comfort zone’. In years past, Calgary was flush with jobs for the taking in your specific area of expertise – that’s not necessarily the case today. You can take a slightly different path than you’d originally planned, and that’s ok! I have a friend who is highly skilled Investor Relations professional who found herself without a job as a result of downsizing. She’s now gained some terrific Communications experience as a Manager in the non-profit sector. While she’ll likely return to the corporate world soon, this role has allowed her to work in a new sector, lead a team, and hone her communications skills in a way that adds breadth to her knowledge and expertise. The keys to her success in this role (besides having an open mind!) was leveraging her transferable skills – here’s some info on how you can do the same.
Network – the word you love to hate
You may be tired of hearing about this, but truly the relationships you have (and cultivate!) are career management ‘gold’. Some people are born to build relationships, and for others it is a task: a slightly uncomfortable thing they feel the need to put on their ‘to do’ list. If you fall into the latter category, do it in a way that you’re comfortable with (here are a few great tips). First, start by figuring out who’s in your network now: the obvious people are work colleagues past and present, those you know from school, professional associations and courses you’ve taken. But what about people in your neighbourhood? Your rec hockey team, the parents on your kids’ sports teams? And don’t forget your hairdresser – he or she knows EVERYONE. If you abhor the idea of attending a formal networking event, find a way to build relationships with people you know on a less professional basis – you’ll be surprised at how much you may have in common with these folks.
I love talking careers - get in touch with me to chat!