Getting your player ready...
In the challenging employment market of the past few years, it has been easy to accept the belief that proactively planning your career and expecting satisfying work is somehow a luxury. On the contrary, creating a plan that takes into account your unique strengths, passions and values is more important in times of volatility than ever.
Don’t misunderstand the message. For the long-term unemployed, the need to produce income to provide the basics in life is nothing to dismiss lightly. That’s why it is tempting to accept any job when openings are at an all-time low. That may be the most practical short-term route, but it should be a temporary plan while you keep an eye on launching your long-term plan.
What does it take to create and implement your own career roadmap? Take note of the following formula and adapt it to your circumstances.
Know thyself. Your long-term goal is to happily merge your values, strengths and knowledge with the demands of the market. Begin with that end in mind and work back from there. What are the best steps to take, and how can you break long-term goals into manageable steps for today? Start with an honest assessment of your strengths, values and accomplishments. Beginning with your natural strengths will help you resist the temptation to fit into whatever position may be offered. So many people go into a given field because they’ve heard the field is experiencing growth, regardless of their skills and interests. The result is often a poor job fit, versus a career using natural strengths to make a positive contribution. Know thy market. After an honest self-assessment, it is time to take a realistic survey of the job market to understand areas of growth. Think of job postings as merely the tip of the iceberg. Embrace the opportunity to gain skills in company research, networking, and self-marketing to identify opportunities beyond job postings. Think beyond the traditional employer-employee relationship, and consider yourself a free agent in an evolving world where traditional jobs are only one source of income and satisfaction. Instead, find ways to uncover opportunities to consult or work on short-term projects using your evolving portfolio of market-focused skills. If your dream job is out of your reach today, don’t despair. Research and identify job descriptions for your ideal job, whether that job is one move or several moves away. Plot a course for adding new skills and education, and taking on new responsibilities, whether paid or volunteer. Connect with mentors who will advocate for you and help you leverage your abilities. Market thyself. Once you have a better understanding of the employment equation you are ready to market yourself. Your campaign should involve a robust mix of market awareness, networking, building LinkedIn connections, and defining a targeted market approach to uncover needs at growing companies before a job is posted. It takes vision, courage and resilience to develop your career roadmap. Cultivate the habit of looking forward several years and beyond to map your skills, network and accomplishments for opportunities that are merely on the horizon today.
Know thyself. Your long-term goal is to happily merge your values, strengths and knowledge with the demands of the market. Begin with that end in mind and work back from there. What are the best steps to take, and how can you break long-term goals into manageable steps for today? Start with an honest assessment of your strengths, values and accomplishments. Beginning with your natural strengths will help you resist the temptation to fit into whatever position may be offered. So many people go into a given field because they’ve heard the field is experiencing growth, regardless of their skills and interests. The result is often a poor job fit, versus a career using natural strengths to make a positive contribution. Know thy market. After an honest self-assessment, it is time to take a realistic survey of the job market to understand areas of growth. Think of job postings as merely the tip of the iceberg. Embrace the opportunity to gain skills in company research, networking, and self-marketing to identify opportunities beyond job postings. Think beyond the traditional employer-employee relationship, and consider yourself a free agent in an evolving world where traditional jobs are only one source of income and satisfaction. Instead, find ways to uncover opportunities to consult or work on short-term projects using your evolving portfolio of market-focused skills. If your dream job is out of your reach today, don’t despair. Research and identify job descriptions for your ideal job, whether that job is one move or several moves away. Plot a course for adding new skills and education, and taking on new responsibilities, whether paid or volunteer. Connect with mentors who will advocate for you and help you leverage your abilities. Market thyself. Once you have a better understanding of the employment equation you are ready to market yourself. Your campaign should involve a robust mix of market awareness, networking, building LinkedIn connections, and defining a targeted market approach to uncover needs at growing companies before a job is posted. It takes vision, courage and resilience to develop your career roadmap. Cultivate the habit of looking forward several years and beyond to map your skills, network and accomplishments for opportunities that are merely on the horizon today.
