It's a rainy day in Georgia and it feels like it's raining all over the world...the Peach state is not soo peachy right now, it's wet and overcast...but it could be worse right? I have a warm home, the blessing of both parents in my life, my mother is baking banana bread and I have lots to celebrate this holiday season.
Well, I hope it gives you comfort to know that I practice what I preach...as I have been mentally preparing for 2012, I am making a list of new marketing strategies and professional development goals.
Can I be transparent with you? Even as a career coach, there are things that I have fear about and need to purposely stretch myself when I run into a roadblock.
The reason that I love what I do so much is that it allows me to share with others (from a real and personal perspective) what has worked for me and has ultimately changed my definition of personal and career success. So, if I am not letting myself off the hook, don't think you get to slide through these 12 career success planning steps.
On the eighth day of the holidays, my career coach said to me:
Invest in your professional development
I know that I have shared this story before and I will share it again. About five years ago, I worked with a very talented professional who had been laid off and essentially had become "extinct" in her own industry. Why? She stayed so focused on the current tasks at hand that she missed (or ignored) the importance of emerging industry trends in the field of investments/stock brokering. Bottom line - she did not increase, improve, expand, strengthen or add to her professional skills...bad, bad career move!
People, both clients and colleagues, exclaim about the number of career management and resume writing certifications I have...understand that in order to stay competitive, I have recognized that my abilities and skills need to be current and relevant.
How about you? What kind of career "insurance" or career emergency plans have you developed? What measures are you taking to keep yourself marketable, competitive and relevant in your field or industry?
-- Take advantage of every paid and low-cost learning opportunity - online seminars, videos, conferences and more
-- Look inside your company for new skill-enhancement projects or initiatives
-- Consider a lateral move if it will expand your knowledge base and strengthen your qualifications
-- Learning through books still works - any new topic, area of expertise, advanced technology, or industry-based resources can be found in major bookstore chain or your local library.
-- Use the Internet to find free teleseminars, webinars, e-books, blogs, and forums or follow key industry leaders on Twitter.
We live in the information age and there is absolutely no excuse for you to be left in the dark.
Are you just catching this series? Well, click here to start from the beginning...
Related posts:
Day 1: Conduct an honest self-assessment
Day 2: Say goodbye to career mistakes and disappointments
Day 3: Jump start your long lost career dreams
Day 4: Take credit for your life and career achievements
Day 5: Identify and promote your personal brand
Day 6: Create a standout resume
Day 7: Beef up your online presence and get your "voice" heard
About Abby, Executive Career Architect, Job Search Expert, Master Resume Writer
Ask yourself these questions:
-- Does your executive resume accurately describe your management style and leadership capabilities?
-- Is your executive resume rich with compelling Challenge-Action-Results success stories that indicate your value contribution?
-- Does your executive resume convey enthusiasm or energy motivating employers to contact you?
-- Has your executive resume been generating a stream of employer responses for the right jobs?
If you have answered no to any of these questions, you should be talking to Abby Locke. She is an executive resume writer helps senior-level executives to achieve career success through cutting-edge, brand-focused career documents and proactive career management strategies.
Her distinctive executive resume samples have been published in 13 national career publications. Have you seen our holiday specials?
