Taking bold steps requires confidence. And confidence attracts employers! In order to have “career confidence,” you need to know exactly what career you desire, have innovative ideas that would make you valuable to that profession, and don’t be afraid to speak up about your dream job. Perfect jobs don’t just appear; you have to go after them with gusto!
Going after what you desire isn’t as easy as it seems, but the following 6 steps can head you in the right direction. Choose the strategies you wish, and good luck!
Bold Step #1 – Tell your current employer that you seek a change, more responsibility, different scenery, or some other game-changer! This gives your current employer a chance to step up and make you an offer you can’t refuse. But, only take this step if you are in excellent standing at your company and are on good terms with your boss. If you know you have earned a promotion and you are ready for another (higher up) position, voice it. Otherwise, don’t be disappointed when someone else gets that promotion you wanted.
Bold Step #2 – If you don’t want to stay at your current company, ask for a letter of recommendation so you can move on. With that said, only ask if you are completely ready to let others know you are seeking employment elsewhere. Plus, only ask someone who knows your work well and will write an effective, positive letter on your behalf. I even recommend providing them with a list of items it would be helpful for them to include in the letter IF they need ideas or mention they are short on time to do this favor for you.
Bold Step #3 – Post on Facebook! Yes, let your friends, family, colleagues, and acquaintances all know you are looking for a new career or new company. Think about it, on Facebook, you’ve got 50-500 friends that all work in different fields and hear about job openings… You could make great connections this way! Of course, you can post on Craigslist and Monster.com, etc. But it’s better to connect with people you know. In this economy, it’s often about who you know to get a job because employers do not want to risk hiring an unknown.
“It is so much easier to navigate the energies at work when you KNOW what is going on in a coworker’s head! We can not only focus on who is the troublemaker, we can tell you if you have a future there or not!”
Bold Step #4 – Look the part! Buy a new wardrobe so you can dress for the position you want, not the one you have. Then, go buy nice paper for your resume and cover letter portfolio. Make sure to do your research on the companies that you will be interviewing for so that you can tailor your clothes and documents to align with their interests and needs.
Bold Step #5 – Make sure you have the proper education, credentials, and training. If you don’t, enroll immediately. I got a job as a librarian even though I had just (that week) enrolled in an MLIS program and only had an emergency credential. Sometimes, a company will want you so much that they will overlook the
fact that you haven’t completed certain requirements (if you have stellar recommendations).
Bold Step #6 – Go for it! Do everything in your power to get the job you want. The alternative is to be stuck in a job you are dissatisfied with. We spend the majority of our waking lives at work, so make sure you are doing something you love. Meaningful work is the best gift you can give yourself!
Martin Luther King, Jr. stated, “Whatever your life’s work is, do it well. A man should do his job so well that the living, the dead, and the unborn could do it no better.” You can easily “do it well” if you believe in the value of your occupation and seek to do work that you find meaningful. Do not settle into a job unless it fulfills you and you are happy to go to work each day; otherwise, keep looking and striving for that perfect position!
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