Beth SchaeferFebruary 6, 2018Advance Your Career, Professional Development and Career Advancement Blog

Always Be Networking | A Workplace Blog

Always Be Networking

By: Beth Schaefer    Director, Institute for Professional Development

My friend and career coach, Kathryn Johnson, once told me that you should always be networking for your next job – even if you are happy with your current one.  If you are dissatisfied with your current role, then networking is all the more important.

Broaden your idea of networking and consider using these 8 strategies suggested by Monster.com.  These same strategies work even if you wish to move within your organization.  Of course, I am partial to #6 – in addition to learning gaining new skills, it can serve as a great platform for networking – especially for those who prefer a smaller crowd and do not want to “work the room.”

  1. Use your name as your brand, especially in email
  2. Meet an employer’s need
  3. Maintain a smart online profile
  4. Ask for help
  5. Become active in a professional association
  6. Take a class or get a certificate
  7. Take on a new project at work
  8. Be flexible

Some say that standing still is the same as moving backwards.  Do not stand still in your career.  Use these strategies to be constantly cultivating your career options.

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Beth SchaeferMarch 9, 2015Advance Your Career, Professional Development and Career Advancement Blog

Your current position: Pinnacle or Plateau? | A Workplace Blog

By: Beth Schaefer
Director, Institute for Professional Development

You finished your degree … you have a new position … you have an enhanced paycheck … Ahhh, time to relax. Wait!

This is not the time to kick back and put up your heels.

Letting a new job or position is a step in your career, not a stopping point – which is why Stephen Covey places professional development in his time management chart. Covey defines four quadrants of time management: Quadrant II is Important, but Not Urgent. The activities in Quadrant II include:

  • Preparation
  • Planning
  • Prevention
  • Relationship Building
  • Personal Development

Although Quadrant II activities are important because they are not urgent, we tend to postpone them.  Don’t!  These are the types of activities that, in the long run, will make you more valuable to an organization than just handling crises and putting out fires.

Here are 7 actions you can take to ensure that you remain relevant and keep your career moving forward:

1. Have a vision. Where do you see yourself in five years?

2. Develop a path. What broad steps do you take to achieve your vision?

3. Make the most of opportunities. What projects in your organization are going undone for which you could volunteer?

4. Become a better communicator. Are you able to listen to others so that you not only hear their words, but understand their motivation?

5. Commit to your education. What classes or professional events and conferences should you be attending?

6. Interview Role Models. Who works in roles that you would like to have, and what can you learn from their career journeys?

7. Make professional development a priority. Where can you carve out time each week for Quadrant II activities?

Your organization is practicing continuous improvement. Are YOU? Get started, today. Schedule a time on your calendar to assess your opportunities and plan your first action.

References:
7 Habits of Highly Effective People by Stephen Covey
Professional Development tips: take control of your professional career @ www.BCJobs.ca
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