Making New Year’s Resolutions is an annual tradition. So is breaking them soon after they are made! Resolving to make changes on January 1st doesn’t have any magical power or guarantee success. Delaying those changes until January 1st when they can benefit you NOW doesn’t make good career sense.
The economic recovery remains as elusive as Bigfoot. You suspect that it is out there, but no one has been able to find its true location and when it will show up again. When things do turn up, you can be prepared by making a few calculated career moves now:
1. Do some research in your chosen career. Requirements for hire or promotion to the next level change as quickly as the IPhone. Search job openings on Internet job boards or the website of companies that you want to work for at the next level to see what is required. If you have been in your present position for three years, you may find that your skills are outdated and you are no longer a viable candidate for hire or promotion.
2. Sign up for classes. There are so many opportunities for training and education online which makes it easy to get the training you need while working. You can get your bachelors and masters degrees online with little or no classroom time. If the classes or degree is in your field, your company’s tuition reimbursement program may pay some or all of the cost.
3. Find a mentor. If you’ve got your education and training and still haven’t been able to climb the ladder, there may be other roadblocks that you may not be aware of. Being able to fit in with the management or executive team is as important as having the right credentials. Constantly coming late to meetings may seem insignificant to you, but could be the one thing that is keeping you off the “fast track,” since others may consider you inconsiderate of their time. A mentor can help you see yourself and how you work, and suggest ways to make yourself more marketable.
4. Take a good look in the mirror. Losing weight is the #1 New Year’s Resolution. Honestly assess your professional appearance. Like it or not, how you look, dress and accessorize makes an impression. As you climb the ladder, you become more visible and associated as a representative of the company. You don’t have to look like a runway model or the cover of GQ. How you take care of yourself speaks to awareness, self-discipline and self-respect. Hire a personal trainer, a personal shopper or business coach. Invest in some quality clothing that is suitable for your job and company culture. Find a good dry cleaner that does alterations. Learn how to sew on buttons and iron. These are small things that can help make a good impression.
5. Improve your verbal communication skills. Moving up means becoming more visible and leaders need to be able to communicate effectively with confidence. If you’d rather wrestle alligators blindfolded than speak in front of a group, now is the time to join Toastmasters or take the Dale Carnegie Course to gain confidence at the podium.
6. Master the Three R’s. Leaders are readers. Keep up in your industry by reading professional magazines and industry websites. Be on top of the latest business trends. Get a copy of the AP stylebook to help you write more effectively. Invest in some online classes in basic business accounting so you can read a balance sheet and financial reports. This will help prepare you to manage your own department effectively when the opportunity arises.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a freelance writer, blogger, and workplace consultant. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in "Training" magazine, "Training & Development" magazine, "Supervision," "Pulse" and "The Savannah Morning News." You can read her blogs at www.skirt.com/savannahchick, www.workingsmartworks.blogspot.com/ and on the web at www.mjnhconsulting.com.
The economic recovery remains as elusive as Bigfoot. You suspect that it is out there, but no one has been able to find its true location and when it will show up again. When things do turn up, you can be prepared by making a few calculated career moves now:
1. Do some research in your chosen career. Requirements for hire or promotion to the next level change as quickly as the IPhone. Search job openings on Internet job boards or the website of companies that you want to work for at the next level to see what is required. If you have been in your present position for three years, you may find that your skills are outdated and you are no longer a viable candidate for hire or promotion.
2. Sign up for classes. There are so many opportunities for training and education online which makes it easy to get the training you need while working. You can get your bachelors and masters degrees online with little or no classroom time. If the classes or degree is in your field, your company’s tuition reimbursement program may pay some or all of the cost.
3. Find a mentor. If you’ve got your education and training and still haven’t been able to climb the ladder, there may be other roadblocks that you may not be aware of. Being able to fit in with the management or executive team is as important as having the right credentials. Constantly coming late to meetings may seem insignificant to you, but could be the one thing that is keeping you off the “fast track,” since others may consider you inconsiderate of their time. A mentor can help you see yourself and how you work, and suggest ways to make yourself more marketable.
4. Take a good look in the mirror. Losing weight is the #1 New Year’s Resolution. Honestly assess your professional appearance. Like it or not, how you look, dress and accessorize makes an impression. As you climb the ladder, you become more visible and associated as a representative of the company. You don’t have to look like a runway model or the cover of GQ. How you take care of yourself speaks to awareness, self-discipline and self-respect. Hire a personal trainer, a personal shopper or business coach. Invest in some quality clothing that is suitable for your job and company culture. Find a good dry cleaner that does alterations. Learn how to sew on buttons and iron. These are small things that can help make a good impression.
5. Improve your verbal communication skills. Moving up means becoming more visible and leaders need to be able to communicate effectively with confidence. If you’d rather wrestle alligators blindfolded than speak in front of a group, now is the time to join Toastmasters or take the Dale Carnegie Course to gain confidence at the podium.
6. Master the Three R’s. Leaders are readers. Keep up in your industry by reading professional magazines and industry websites. Be on top of the latest business trends. Get a copy of the AP stylebook to help you write more effectively. Invest in some online classes in basic business accounting so you can read a balance sheet and financial reports. This will help prepare you to manage your own department effectively when the opportunity arises.
Mary Nestor-Harper, SPHR, is a freelance writer, blogger, and workplace consultant. Based in Savannah, GA, her work has appeared in "Training" magazine, "Training & Development" magazine, "Supervision," "Pulse" and "The Savannah Morning News." You can read her blogs at www.skirt.com/savannahchick, www.workingsmartworks.blogspot.com/ and on the web at www.mjnhconsulting.com.
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