Your career is thriving in chaos, but may change with frightening speed without ongoing monitoring. Your career disaster may be the result of an explosion, a hurricane, new technology or a new boss. Here are four important ways to avoid career disaster.
Read, Read, Read
Set aside a minimum of one hour a week to read Internet articles about trends in the supply chain, especially in your area of expertise. EBNonline is an excellent source, but do not neglect Huffington Post, New York Times (especially the globlal business section), the Wall Street Journal and many other fabulous sources. Read about what’s happening at Apple to see what’s happening in the tech world. Buy a new business best seller and peruse it for ideas for your career.
Use Groups on LinkedIn
Not only maintain your spiffy LinkedIn profile, but comment on the groups on LinkedIn. If you simply use the search term “java groups” on your home page of LinkedIn, you will see almost 3000 possible groups to join for connecting with others with similar interests. Don’t be passive reader in your selected groups. Respond to learn from others and create a digital footprint for building a broader reputation. Did you know that one of the first things a recruiter does when s/he finds or receives your resume is to look at your digital footprint? If you don’t know how to complete your LinkedIn profile, find a profile you like and use it for a model. Your profile needs at least three recommendations (not endorsements), or it’s not considered “complete.” Make sure your summary is explicit and enticing. And Google yourself to assure someone with the same name isn’t an ax murderer!
Mingle with Purpose
“I’ve been too busy working to have any real friends,” I often hear from job seekers. My advice is to program into your life at least one or two professional meeting or civic groups and then grab and greet” as some call meetings for networking. In other words, get to know people that know people. Whether you choose a IEEE or other Toastmasters, mingle to create relationships. No weak handshakes, either!
Attitude Reigns
“I’ve interviewed a few times in the past six months since I’ve been laid off. When I follow up, the recruiters don’t seem to know who I am!” Hmmmm! Sounds like this individual may need to improve his interview skills. Seek help from a friendly recruiter or advice from a friend. Maybe your attitude is showing and not in a good way. Find someone who will be ruthless with feedback. I hear horrible stories from candidates about how they are treated in interviews. If you are a hiring manager, remember, the world keeps getting smaller. The individual you ignore, may be interviewing you one day. Whoops! Possible career disaster!
If you are a candidate, ask for help, but not a job, when you contact someone with whom you’ve created a business relationship. People like helping each other. Statistics say that as many as 80% of jobs come from someone you know or get to know. If you’ve been treated unfairly, put on your “big person” boots and get over it. Attitude is critical for avoiding career disaster.Change is inevitable. The 35 year old or the 35 year career can both be affected negatively if you continue to say, “They’ll never get rid of me!” Risk management is a huge topic these days. Take it seriously. You need to avoid career disaster with your own, personal risk management!