Your Job Search And Developing A Successful Professional Career
or those of us that are develop and change roles within
just beginning their job most professional organisations,
search after finishing which exists nowadays, is greatly
their course of study, the world improved compared with ten or
of work can seem rather daunting. twenty years ago.
There are so many careers to
choose from these days. They are In many organisations career
no easier to get into than they development for professionals
ever were, and it is so hard to used to be hierarchical, linear
know before you start which are and predictable. Now in contrast
the most likely to suit your it is dynamic, lateral and
temperament and long-term unpredictable, at least within
interests. many of the most vibrant and
successful professional
For all those embarking on a job organisations in the United
search I would like to say that Kingdom.
one of the most important
criteria should in fact be the When most professionals think of
choice of the company. Do make their career they often think in
enquiries about the company and terms of their qualifications,
their reputation for developing training, experience and the
their staff. Find out if possible opportunities that progress in
about staff turnover rates and if these will bring, as long as they
at interview, do ask questions have made the right choice of
which relate to the value that company within which this will
the organisation places upon its happen.
staff and their development.
Indeed recent United Kingdom
Once in most companies the degree research has shown that the
of flexibility for individuals to companies themselves generally
see this as the career better personal knowledge of your
progression route they offer. own job strengths, and maybe find
Nevertheless, research within they don't match your current
these organisations in recent role.
years and the charting of the
progress of individuals has shown The “other ways” to reach
that there are other important fulfilment and promotion in your
career drivers at work within job:-
these organisations which are
allowing employees to move both 1.Follow your passion
upwards and laterally. These 2.Be pro-active
effects which are greatly 3.Grasp opportunities
beneficial to the careers and job 4.Engage in politics
satisfaction of staff remain 5.Be visible
largely unappreciated within 6.Use personal networking
these organisations, and yet we 7.Build and share expertise
are going to reveal them here. 8.Risk taking
9.Personal image
In this article I will now list
and explain these all important Not all these will be open to
“other ways” to get on in your employees at all levels within
career. We hope that those the organisation, although most
reading this, who are at the job will and I will now briefly
search stage, will feel comment on each of the above
re-assured. Be assured that it is list. As follows;-
becoming very unlikely that a
poor career decision now could 1.Follow your passion
ever leave you in the situation
of being a “square peg in a round Don't be concerned, especially
hole” later, when you develop a during your job search, if you do
not have a formal career plan. them out. Earlier we talked about
Although most of us imagine that the increase in flexibility that
successful people are driven by a organisations are allowing their
career plan, recent interviews staff to develop their careers.
with top achievers have shown The other and slightly negative
that this is not mostly the case. side to this is that you are far
What these job search high less likely to be looked after
achievers have in common though than in previous years, and the
is that they are driven by a days of being offered promotion
challenge, or learning, or both. as and when your experience and
length of service would place you
Another common factor for success next in turn are far less likely
is to be true to yourself, and than they once were.
this is where the flexibility to
change roles within an 3.Grasp opportunities
organisation is so important. You
may need to move around to find It hardly needs saying that you
that niche in which your personal will actually need to grasp those
goals become aligned with company opportunities, but if your
goals. When this becomes a personal goals are aligned with
reality, then those around you those of the organisation, you
will also feed off your positive will want to take on the
motives which will show through, challenges that promotion will
and the subconscious affect will offer you. Don't be cynical about
be very positive. volunteering. Do raise your head
above the parapet and make your
2.Be pro-active willingness to accept progression
clear to your line managers, and
You will need to seize the right decision makers.
opportunities and actively seek
4.Engage in politics offices, but make sure they
remain visible by their use of
I am going to call politics the politics, and by sheer skill and
ability of high flying employees effort in producing remarkable
to (without necessarily realising results which in themselves
fully what they are doing, or to create the visibility you will
themselves call it “politics”), need.
recognise those in the
organisation who yield the power 6.Use personal networking
and influence to further their
careers. This is best done To most of us it comes naturally,
through contact made during but is still worth mentioning
projects and obviously includes her. Treat your colleagues well,
developing good relationships and as you would hope to be
through your contact through treated. Do assist less senior
normal duties with higher levels staff in their work. Do take on
of management. This is positive specialist expert roles, become
politics. Do not view it, and do involved in office working groups
not use it as knife-in the back and committees, and make yourself
politics, which it should never available to colleagues who may
be. need assistance in their decision
making. OK, this may take up some
5.Be visible of your time, and reduce your
performance in core work to some
You will not be offered extent, but, those you help will
opportunities unless you are in usually work more effectively
the right place at the right after assistance is given,
time. Some choose deliberately to especially if they are part of
work at head office. Others rise your team, and become far more
through regional and branch likely to support you in your
promotion, when needed. do be calculating and do use all
possible political and personal
7.Build and share expertise networking skills to weigh the
risks in say starting a new
This is particularly important to product section of the
those whose vocation is in the organisation. Be sure to
technical field and who do not understand the relative merits of
seek management posts to rise the upside, alongside the
within an organisation. Immerse downside if somehow you fail.
yourself fully in all technical Handle things well and even a
aspects of your chosen subject. less than successful outcome can
Use to the fullest the be put to your own advantage in
willingness of most enlightened most circumstances, and generally
companies to provide you with your commitment to sensible risk
training. Use politics and taking in connection with new
personal networking to build your ventures will count very highly
reputation as an expert within in your favour.
your specialist area, if you can
excel in what you do, publish 9.Personal image
papers and publicise your
standing both within the company All of the above will build over
and within the professional time to become your personal
organisations to which you will image, both as you see yourself
hold memberships and present you and others see you within the
research. organisation: your reputation. As
you rise within the company
8.Risk taking structure no matter whether you
be a manager, or a technical
This will come naturally if you expert just about the most
are following your passion, but important aspect of your
reputation will be your
reputation to deliver. To deliver So, job search may be your quest
what you promise, when you today, do your searching with
promise it, and within allocated energy and drive. Never forget
resources, time and cost. Your the enormous opportunities that
ability to deliver will underpin lay ahead in employment, to build
all your other efforts combined, your own life-experience, achieve
and you will be a success story wealth and fulfilment, and “make
attracting those around you to a difference”.
follow you.
About the Author:
Steve Evans has a job search web site http://www.jobsearch.wppts.com , where we have the very best career resources for you. Steve has also recently created a dog breeds web site.
Read more articles by: Steve Evans
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