Keep Your Career Edge Part 2: Plan Ahead, Stay On Course, and Stretch Out
June 27, 2008
Jeremy Nisen--HispanicBusiness.com
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In part one of our series providing success tips to mid-career professionals, three experts had complementary takes on the strong benefits of constantly improving and expanding your skill set. In part two, Chicago United President Gloria Castillo, Pitney Bowes executive and author Keith Wyche, HireDiversity.com Director Bill Krutzen, and Robert Half Int'l Pacific Northwest District President Josh Warborg, offer a variety of ideas and views on how to combat burnout and jump up to the next plateau. Their comments primarily addressed mid-career professionals, who can find themselves hitting a wall, possibly due to stress, frustration, or simply due to treading water in the same position for too long.
Mr. Wyche takes a long view on the issue of burnout.
"Ideally, one should have already created a career blueprint that outlines what he or she wants to achieve, and the roles and experiences required to get there," he says. "I always suggest starting at the end of your career and working backwards. So, if my goal is to be a CEO, what jobs or experiences do I need before that?"
He told HispanicBusiness.com that with this blueprint, a professional can identify the gaps in experiences, and identify opportunities to gain that experience. "A side benefit," he says," is that it also helps you avoid certain roles that either add no value to your career experience, or take you off course from your ultimate goal." The very kinds of roles that would encourage a professional to tread water."
He emphasizes that professionals who have never taken the time to create a career blueprint can stay in a role too long, or wander from job to job without any meaningful goal in sight.
"This may be acceptable if all you want is a 'job' to pay the bills," says Mr. Wyche, "but totally unacceptable if you truly want a 'career.'"
Speaking to the issue of advancement, Mr. Warborg points out an interesting trend in the near and mid-range future.
"A significant amount of baby boomers are retiring," he says, "and they will need a wave of people to replace them." In addition, new employment paradigms are presenting opportunities like never before in the U.S.
"America's more diverse in the workplace, and employers are taking very seriously the idea that they have to be diverse to be a successful company," he says. "It's a pretty resounding trend."
To take advantage of both situations, or most other workplace advancement opportunities, Ms. Castillo stresses that communication is crucial.
"To position one's self for senior-level positions, make sure your company's leadership knows about your capabilities, experiences, and desire to grow your contribution to its success," she says. "Think of it as your 'professional public relations effort'."
While not everyone is comfortable with a sales effort on their own behalf, marketing yourself to higher-ups will be a good first step at stepping outside of your comfort zone. In fact, Ms. Castillo identifies a desire to step out of the comfort zone as a primary characteristic of her organization's most successful members.
Mr. Krutzen stresses the importance of setting realistic and achievable goals with timelines. "Creating a career plan is a vital part to assess where you are in your plan. Developing realistic goals, with timelines and milestones is a great way to view your achievements, and review where you still need to go."
He continued: "Knowing when you've hit a wall at your current company will force you to decide -- should I continue with this company in the hopes that it will grow, or is it time to begin looking for another company that will help me meet my career goals?"
Having a goal in mind and a plan to get there, and not being afraid to deviate for an opportunity, says Mr. Krutzen, will help guide your mid-level career into the future in a positive fashion.
Source: HispanicBusiness.com (c) 2008. All rights reserved.
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