Own Your Career

For 8 hours a day for upwards of thirty years in a lifetime we are at work.  Here in the United States we work hard and relax little.  To make that working time meaningful is vitally important.  No matter if we are at the top of the heap or negotiating the entry level, in a job we enjoy or managing a transition we need to own our careers.  By taking ownership over some of what happens to us on the job we need to do many things.  Why not make it a priority to do a few of these. 

1.       Make sure your network is solid.  Do you have a large number of professional contacts who can help you find answers, talk through challenges, and alert you to opportunities?  If not spend some time developing the relationships you have in your field of endeavor.  Attend conferences and development opportunities.  Even if at your own expense it will pay off.

2.       Keep your resume updated.  Does your resume include your current position?  Have you added recent courses or certifications?  Is your current phone number and e-mail address on your resume? No matter what the situation you may need to submit a current resume in a hurry.  Take a moment to review yours and make any necessary changes.

3.       Be in constant learn mode.  It may be valuable to you to take a training class in your field that ends in some sort of certification.  Accountants, Project Managers, IT Personnel and Human Resources Professionals are just a few careers that benefit from professional certifications.  All career minded people benefit by keeping their computer skills current or developing their leadership or public speaking persona.

4.       Keep your options open.  There is nothing wrong or disloyal about keeping your options open.  For some that might mean taking a similar job at a different company or it might mean a change of filed altogether.  Get to know companies that call for your skill set.  Find out about other ways to package your experience if you want to change careers.

Owning your career by constantly learning and growing will help you feel a measure of control over your work life.  Try it.