What does your next play for advancement look like?
Unfortunately, work scenarios where individuals retire after 30 years of service to one employer are a thing of the past. Today, in order to survive in a slowed economy, I recommend my clients actively and decisively manage their careers by applying the principles of “career resilience”. As “companies of one”, employees must constantly evolve and adapt within a competitive job market. In this article, we will define career resilience and describe six tips to achieve it.
What is career resilience?
In the book “Career Resilience In A Changing Workplace”, the authors define career resilience as “developing the knowledge and skills required to make a visible and personally motivated contribution to the organization and its customers (Collard et al. 1996).” Previously, employers took some responsibility for the success of their employees by fostering work environments that encouraged employee productivity and growth. Today, employers actively seek individuals who are top performers to position them for advancement. Other employees who are categorized as “average” or “below average” are eventually terminated or simply fail to advance with no opportunity for promotion.
Six tips to achieve career resilience
To survive in today’s competitive job market, the following are six tips you can use to cultivate career resilience to excel in today’s competitive job market:
What other tips can you offer to strategically manage your career and achieve real career resilience?
Article originally printed on Examiner.com by Margi Williams
Image credit: Gettys Photo, Examiner.com
References
Collard, B; Epperheimer, J. W.; and Saign, D. Career Resilience In A Changing Workplace. Columbus: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1996. (ED 396 191)
What is career resilience?
In the book “Career Resilience In A Changing Workplace”, the authors define career resilience as “developing the knowledge and skills required to make a visible and personally motivated contribution to the organization and its customers (Collard et al. 1996).” Previously, employers took some responsibility for the success of their employees by fostering work environments that encouraged employee productivity and growth. Today, employers actively seek individuals who are top performers to position them for advancement. Other employees who are categorized as “average” or “below average” are eventually terminated or simply fail to advance with no opportunity for promotion.
Six tips to achieve career resilience
To survive in today’s competitive job market, the following are six tips you can use to cultivate career resilience to excel in today’s competitive job market:
- Identify and develop career management tools and resources that allow you to easily track your professional progress. For instance, create a simple system that allows you to document personal career success stories that substantiate your unique value proposition.
- Personally commit to ongoing learning by outlining a professional development plan that reinforces your willingness to broaden your knowledge in your field and then execute it. Make sure your plan is directly tied to your career goals. Stay abreast of emerging trends and share the knowledge with your peers and direct supervisors when appropriate.
- Actively seek opportunities for professional growth. Don’t be afraid to volunteer for special projects and be sure to ask for feedback. If the feedback is good, record it as one of your achievements. Otherwise, use it as an opportunity to become better in your field.
- Write a positive affirmation in alignment with your life purpose and career goals then repeat it every day. Compare your work activity to the affirmation and eliminate anything that does not support it. (Consider writing an affirmation for each day to focus on the varied aspects of both your professional and personal goals and rotate them daily).
- Contract a professionally written resume, LinkedIn profile, and reference sheet and periodically update them so you can use them at a moment’s notice to broaden your network.
- Nurture your professional network with the philosophy to “pay it forward” whenever possible.
- Regularly meet with your direct supervisor to request their suggestions for improving your performance. Review your job description and request updates whenever necessary to ensure there are no surprises when it is time for your performance review.
What other tips can you offer to strategically manage your career and achieve real career resilience?
Article originally printed on Examiner.com by Margi Williams
Image credit: Gettys Photo, Examiner.com
References
Collard, B; Epperheimer, J. W.; and Saign, D. Career Resilience In A Changing Workplace. Columbus: ERIC Clearinghouse on Adult, Career, and Vocational Education, 1996. (ED 396 191)
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