Monday, December 5, 2011

Build yourself and be prepared

You have to be able to write if you are going to promote your own brand online.  Don't sit around and wait for your personal career to try and define your success.  I made the mistake of waiting for 11 years to get the respect that I believe that I deserved inside the company.  I've learned a lot within the company but I could have done a lot more to help myself outside of the company but I didn't.  You are truly the only person that can build the career that you want.  No one else cares what you want they only care about what they want.

Communicate your thoughts professionally and put yourself in a light that focuses on your strengths.
Do you have a hidden talent that you love?  If so work on it in your spare time non-stop.  You may be able to build something from it and you may not be able to.  You'll never know until you try but you truly have nothing to lose.

Lately I've been doing some work on LinkedIn because it's a way to truly network.  I was surprised to get an email from someone in HR for a job through it.  I wasn't even actively looking but I was glad to know that someone was paying attention to the skills that I have.  Participate in some of the groups and express yourself.  Listen and understand what the groups are talking about.  Don't make the mistake of trying to control the group go in with the attitude of trying to be someone who gives to the group.  If you give to the group people will take notice and you'll never know what connections you'll make in return.  People are always looking for someone who can help them get to the next level.  This could be in the form of a new job, business partner or an expert consultant and you could be that person.

The corporate world is definitely changing a lot.  Companies are moving the jobs over seas without a doubt.  As a professional you have to figure out a way to adapt.  You make think that it doesn't affect you but it actually does.  How can you use your skills to combat this so in the future you are somewhat secure?  You may have to prepare yourself to be an online professional who words online and has to travel to different countries?  If so, are you ready to make that happen?