MANAGING YOUR CAREER

Things Your Grandmother Never taught You!  Ó2001 J. Creveling

(Don't blame her, there's no way she could have known.)

  As we have learned, there are no guarantees, particularly when it comes to employment. To successfully manage your career going forward, you need to do the following:

  §         Find your passion - This is perhaps the most difficult, but the most important of the ten principles.  What is it you really want to accomplish with your career, now and in the future? 

§         Know thyself - Know yourself, what specific skills, competencies, interests, and values do you have? 

§         Have a career plan and align it with the market - Through your skills, do you provide what is wanted and needed in the marketplace? 

§         Implement plan & review - Do what you said is important to you and act on it.  Remember that nothing remains the same forever!  Change happens.  Plan on it! 

§         Create results - Add value in your work by thinking and acting outside the box. 

§         Maintain positive visibility - Network, both internally and externally. 

§         Practice clear communications - Practicing good communication skills are an integral part of your success. 

§         Constantly improve skills - Don't stop learning and growing.  Become a perpetual student. 

§         Think like an entrepreneur "me inc." - Act like an internal vendor and appoint yourself "President" of your own career.  Prepare an updated résumé and know how to market yourself successfully. 

§         Don't forget to laugh often - Take care of yourself mentally, physically and practice good healthy habits!