Getting your player ready...
If you have recently found
yourself in a career transition
or job search
after a long
tenure with
one company,
the new rules
of managing
your career
may seem
overwhelming.
the rapid pace of change in
business, technology and the
economy in recent years, the
skills required to make a transition
have changed. In many
instances, the rules for making
a good hire have changed, too. Do you have the skills that
hiring managers find critical
when making tough hiring
decisions? Caution is still the
watchword in hiring, for entry
and executive level alike. For
that reason, it is important
to think beyond the job titles
that are in demand, or the
technical requirements of the
job. By cultivating these skills
and traits, you can distinguish
yourself from the competition: Resiliency: This describes
the person who bounces back
from disappointments quickly,
and who takes the initiative to
gather new skills or resources
when faced with challenge.
The ability to reinvent yourself,
your approach to finding
work, and your attitude toward
resolving problems at work are
all a part of this. Life-Long Learner: Are you
inquisitive and interested in
continuous learning? This trait
is far more attractive to hiring
managers than the attitude that
your learning is in the past.
Find ways to demonstrate your
ability to learn about new technologies,
products or methods. Smart Risk-Taking:
Successful career transitions
happen more readily for those
who are willing to get out of
their comfort zone and test
new environments and skills. Adaptive Thinking: Think
about examples of how you
have solved problems through
innovation, or how you found
opportunity in a problem. Turn
these into success stories in
your resume and interviews. Future-Focused: Today it is
necessary to focus on concrete
results while remaining alert to
trends in your environment.
The person who responds
readily to change, or leads positive
change, is in demand.
ability to collaborate and
drive results is based in part
on strong social skills. This
includes self-awareness and
the ability to understand and
engage the motivations and
strengths of others. Social Technologies/New
Media: Have you embraced
wise use of social technologies
in your career development?
This means leveraging the
value of LinkedIn and other
social media tools to enhance
your professional skills, career
visibility and ability to uncover
opportunities. Virtual Collaboration:
Many companies have integrated
flexible work options
that require skills in working
and communicating virtually.
Take extra steps to create a
positive virtual presence to
bridge the distance gap.
Take time to assess honestly
your current mastery of these
skills. Don’t worry if you can’t
check everything on the list
today! Choose one or two that
you can improve now. For an
objective assessment of your
career transition readiness,
consider some career counseling
or executive coaching,
or tap into your network of
trusted mentors. Adapting this
set of skills will not only speed
you to a satisfying transition,
but also positions you for longterm
success once on the job.
