| There are two things that every single person should | | | | you open yourself up to opportunities that you can plan |
| be focused on no matter where they are in their life | | | | for or even that might pop up. A great position to be in. |
| and career. Whether "in transition", stay at home | | | | The other thing that you should be doing is networking. |
| parent, in a job, career, own your own business or | | | | Whether it's internal or external. |
| even retired. | | | | Networking, like developing yourself gives you the |
| The 2 things that you should always be doing is - | | | | chance to be better position for the expected and |
| - Personal/Professional Development | | | | unexpected. |
| - Networking | | | | Internal Networking is vital to anyone. Internal |
| Personal/Professional Development doesn't particularly | | | | Networking establishes relationships with people that |
| mean that you have to be always in some kind of | | | | you can help and can help you. Wouldn't it be great to |
| training, but it should be something that you are doing | | | | have a contact in the department you might want to |
| on a regular basis. What skills/training could you acquire | | | | move into, need for resources or information or give |
| that would make you more marketable? How could | | | | you the heads up if a position opens up. Is there |
| you develop yourself now to prepare you for your | | | | someone who could act as a mentor for your career |
| next career change/advancement? It doesn't even | | | | or career that you want to get into? |
| have to be directly related to your present position. | | | | External Networking isn't much different. Even if you're |
| What would you have an interest in? | | | | in the corporate world, you should be externally |
| If you don't know how or where to get started, update | | | | networking. Join an association, meet new people. |
| your resume, then envision the next job you would like | | | | 70% of new jobs are found through some type of |
| to apply for. What's missing on your resume or what | | | | network connection. |
| could you learn or add which would make your | | | | What if you were thinking of going out on your own? |
| resume a better fit for your future? | | | | Would it benefit you to get to know someone that has |
| Also don't just take a class and be done. Apply that | | | | "been there, done that" already? People who network |
| knowledge. If you don't have the opportunity at work, | | | | find resources, information, all sorts of assistance to |
| look to applying it on the outside. Volunteer work is | | | | help them personally and professionally. |
| often a great outlet. | | | | Don't have the time? Make the time...maybe once a |
| Would you like to advance into more leadership roles? | | | | month. Not sure where to network? What are your |
| Do the training and then join an organization, run for a | | | | interests, your passion? Join a book club...guess what |
| board or leadership position there. You then get the | | | | that's networking. Join an association related to your |
| opportunity to practice and develop what you've | | | | industry, a dynamite area to network. Network with |
| learned. Pretty much any role that you want to move | | | | your chamber of commerce, you can get all the dirt |
| into has a counterpart in the not for profit world. By | | | | around the community! |
| volunteering, you gain confidence and experience | | | | By making yourself more visible and meeting new and |
| (which you CAN put on your resume) as well as do | | | | different people you increase the possibilities. What |
| something great for your community. | | | | does "increase the possibilities" mean? It depends on |
| Also the very act of being a continuous learner puts | | | | what you need or are looking for. You may not even |
| your mindset in a different place and it shows! The | | | | know right now what that is. However, by having an |
| continuous learner is more likely to feel positive about | | | | established and growing network of people you have |
| their job/career/business and less apt to feel in a rut | | | | a relationship with; you are more likely to get what you |
| since you're exposing yourself to new things. You | | | | want. An example would be employment. |
| display yourself to superiors, employers and | | | | I see a lot of people lately that have lost their jobs. |
| prospective clients as someone open to change, | | | | Unfortunately, they NOW are starting to network. Still a |
| learning, continuous improvement as well as opening | | | | good idea, but think about if they had been already |
| you to different ways of thinking, doing the work that | | | | plugged into the network, a lot of people knew them |
| you do now. | | | | already. Would that guarantee work? Not at all, but |
| As mentioned, it can be personal. Have you ever been | | | | certainly you would have increased the possibilities. |
| in a group where someone mentioned they were | | | | Nothing is more short-sighted then giving control of |
| taking gardening or tango class or something totally | | | | your life and your future to someone else. Yet that is |
| irrelevant to their work? Pay attention to how the | | | | what many people do with their employers. |
| group reacts. While there may be some nay-sayers, | | | | We can't predict the future, especially yours. However |
| most people will be interested, think the person is cool | | | | by continuously developing your skills, learning and |
| for taking it. The general feeling is positive about what | | | | knowledge as well as getting to know a wider range |
| the person is doing even though it had nothing to do | | | | of people by networking, you retain a higher degree of |
| with their work! Part of it is because you are seeing a | | | | control over your future and increase the possibility |
| side of someone that you probably weren't familiar | | | | that you'll not only be able to land on your feet or even |
| with, but it's also because they are going out and | | | | advance, but you'll be doing it in the direction YOU |
| learning, doing something a bit different, exciting. | | | | want to go. |
| By establishing an attitude of continuous development, | | | | |
