The 5 Best Strategies for Career Development

[Bolaleman]

A successful career development strategy should consider a minimum of
five strategies, including the definition of a career target, building
of a personal network, use of online social network tools, constant
improvement of personal skills and the development of a personal
brand.

In this article I am presenting five proven strategies for career
development which most of the really successful people are applying.
You might find that it is just common sense, but I assure you that
applying these strategies skyrocket your chances of developing
successfully your career. These are the five strategies:

1. Define a Career Target
The first step in the career development process is defining a
concrete career target. What do you like to change in your career?
Where do you want to be in two and in five years? Defining a career
target can mean for some people trying to get to the next step on the
career ladder, for other people it might signify doing something
completely different. In any case, you should make a decision in order
to actively develop your career instead of leaving your career
development just to luck or the humor of your boss or other
circumstances. By deciding first what you want, you can actively take
part in this process and you will more rapidly and easily find
opportunities that take you to the subsequent career level and a
higher life quality.

2. Build up your Personal Network
It is a reality that most of the job vacancies are never posted in
journals, newspapers or on-line and you only find them using your
personal or business contacts - your "Network". This also sometimes is
called the "hidden job market". Building your personal network is a
long-term process, so start as soon as possible with people within
your own organization which are the most easy to reach and meet.
Building up a network is not making hundreds of contacts in a record
time but to concentrate on developing relationships. Find ways to
build on your connections by setting up an informational interview,
inviting them to another event you are attending or talking to them in
a more personal atmosphere (e.g. during lunch time or coffee break).
If you are following these advises you will open the most precious
resource you have in finding the job you want.

3. Use new Online Social Network Tool
When you're seeking employment, Facebook, Linkedin or Twitter are some
of the most used social networks that you can use to build up your
personal network. Many people for instance are using with success
Twitter as networking tool. Used in conjunction with LinkedIn, job
search engines, and other job sites, Twitter can help you make
connections, find job listings, and build a personal brand that will
help boost your career and speed up your job search. I recommend also
using Facebook to build up your network. The fact that Facebook has
more than 300 million active users is a good enough reason to use it
as a job search and networking tool. For active job searchers this
network is probably beside Linkedin the most important communication
platform as many recruiters are constantly scouring these two social
networking sites to reach out to potential candidates.

4. Maintain yourself Up-to-Date
Keep current on your job skills in technical and non-technical skills,
like project management, language skills, leadership and conflict
resolution, etc. You never should see your career as something static
but as part of a continuous learning process. Most professions require
training as routine part of their license requirements, while other
professions might not; nevertheless, for all professions it is just
common sense to keep track with new trends and technologies if they
are serious about your career.

5. Develop your Personal Brand
Your personal Reputation or your Personal Brand is a critical career
issue and managing this intangible asset is vital for today’s forward-
looking individuals and for your career development. As you advance in
your career, more and more people know your skills and expertise and
you become an expert on your field. You can accelerate and enhance
this personal brand formation process by doing some public speaking at
trade exhibitions, specialized conferences or other platforms where
you can share your experience with people working in the same field. A
very powerful technique is writing an article in your corporate
newsletter or in a trade publication about your experience, industry
branch or profession. The ideal situation is if you are over time
considered as a real expert in your business, not only as information
source, but also for new career opportunities when they come to pass.

Searching a Job is a short-term pursuit of a position that matches
your financial and career goals. Career Planning and Development is
much more than this. It is a long, progressive process of choosing
education, training, and jobs that fit your interests and skills.
Don’t do just your job, go the “extra mile” and think about what you
really want in your career, build your personal network and develop
your personal brand as expert in your field. If you wait until you are
unemployed you’re going to loose too much time and finding a new job
will be really hard work.

The author Oswald J. Eppers is freelance consultant and career
adviser. On his homepage Job Assistant Guide (http://www.
2ajobguide.com) he presents free tools for job searching and career
development.

--
You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Truck Driver Jobs" group.
To post to this group, send email to truck-dr...@googlegroups.com.
To unsubscribe from this group, send email to truck-driver-j...@googlegroups.com.
For more options, visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/truck-driver-jobs?hl=en.