It is really the transcript of an interview that was recently carried out at the offices of career potential, llc, and it is the main piece that is being presented this month. Susan Fletcher, an associate of Ford, poses significant considerations about the ways in which long-term career management achieves the highest possible level of achievement. susan: How does “performing your work” vary from “managing your career”? What is the difference between the two? Ford: In any case, doing your duties is of the utmost significance. When you are employed by a company, it is essential that you put in a lot of effort, perform effectively, satisfy their requirements, and fulfill your commitments. In spite of this, it is important to remember that occupations are subject to change. In other words, the employment is owned by the employer, and you have the ability to lose it at any moment. Your career will always be open to you. Your career is something that no one can take away from you. Moreover, in my perspective, a job is a subset of your career, not the other way around. This is rather than the other way around. An excessive number of individuals devote all of their efforts and attention to their work, despite the fact that it is, in reality, nothing more than a task. In the course of your whole professional life, it is nothing more than a stopover along the path. susan: Within your discussion, you brought up the idea of “perpetual career management.” Do you mean “perpetual” in the literal sense, meaning that you have to manage your profession continuously and for the rest of your life? That is a significant commitment. Ford: Well, sure, with that being said, having a profession, working, and earning a livelihood is also a significant commitment. The decision to get married, have a family, and start a family is a significant commitment. It is a significant commitment to purchase a home and to take out a mortgage. This is all a part of the life that we live, and if you want to be a working professional, you have to accept the fact that you are going to be managing your career for the rest of your life, right up until the day that you retire. It was also noted by you, Susan, that your employment is a part of your total career development. In order to view of my employment as little milestones along the path, what are some ways that I may go about developing that attitude or altering that perspective? How can I take it into my own mind? Ford: I prefer to think of it as having an entrepreneurial attitude. What do you think? Consider the following scenario: you were the proprietor of a little consulting firm of your own. There would be customers for you. There are clientele who come and go. There are projects that come and go. You are constantly seeking for the next chance or the next customer, right? However, your company continues to operate throughout the day. This is also true for managing your career. As I said earlier, occupations may be wonderful, but they always come to an end at some point. Therefore, if you have an entrepreneurial mentality, you should constantly be thinking about how you can improve yourself, become more successful, and create a better future for yourself. In light of this, I believe that this way of thinking is wonderful, especially for those who are employed full-time. susan: To my perspective, the millennial generation already has such mentality. After working at a job for what is it, maybe two years, they decide to go on to something else. For those of us who are members of the baby boomer generation, how can we come to the realization that “okay, my job is not going to endure ten or fifteen years?” Is it possible for me to see myself as my own service center? Which steps do I need to take? What are some of the things that you do on a regular basis to actually begin thinking in that manner? It is well knowledge that perpetual career management refers to the process of managing one’s career and maintaining a focus on one’s work over an extended period of time. Specifically, how do you go about doing that? There are a lot of different methods. Because it is impossible to predict what will occur in the future, one technique is to ensure that all of your professional documentation are constantly up to date. Another important factor is to have a clear idea of the destination you are aiming for. What are your plans for your long-term career? ensuring that your other papers are up to date, such as having endorsements or testimonials, letters of recommendation, lists of professional references, and ensuring that your LinkedIn page is completely up to date. These are only some of the things that you should constantly have at the forefront of your mind, keeping them fresh and new at all times. Moreover, being active in your business community outside of your employment, participating in professional groups and organizations, and even, in certain instances, doing volunteer work. Not only do you want to be linked to the larger corporate environment, but you also want to be tied in and connected to the larger marketplace. susan: For instance, throughout the month of January, I could be able to concentrate on completing my documentation. It’s possible that I’ll do more networking in February. So, should I work on each of them individually, as I go along, or do I make an effort to work on them simultaneously, or what is the most effective method? Ford: I believe that it is mostly simultaneously, with a little bit here and there added in here and there. Spending time on your self-marketing tools and your continuous career management should be something you do on a weekly basis with your time. It is of the utmost importance to have this at the forefront of your thoughts and to avoid being completely disoriented in your work. The majority of individuals are completely absorbed in their work. As far as their work lives are concerned, they have no time for anything else. That is a really serious oversight. When it comes to career management, I always recommend that my clients set up time in their weekly schedules for things like as networking and other ongoing tasks. If you don’t take care of it, it will never be completed. susan: There were many career papers that you mentioned. Naturally, each and every one of us is acquainted with the resume. How often should you make changes to that? whenever anything changes in your work or profession, ford: whenever something changes. Assuming that you have just celebrated your work anniversary or that you have been promoted to a new position, it is necessary for you to update the dates that are shown on your resume. Alternatively, let’s imagine that you have recently achieved something that you are quite pleased with. You have the option of going into the CV and adding another achievement that is bulleted into your present position. The answer, in a nutshell, is whenever it is acceptable and whenever it is required. susan: Okay, I appreciate it. I believe that all of us are acquainted with letters of recommendation as well; yet, you said something really different called testimonials. Please provide an explanation of what testimonials are. I’m sure, Ford. Picture yourself with eight letters of recommendation in your possession. Let’s imagine that each of those letters has a single outstanding paragraph that differentiates itself from the rest in a significant way. To get the desired effect of having around six to eight paragraphs enclosed in quote marks, you would first extract those paragraphs and then combine them on a single page. Each one is attributed to the author, who may be a colleague, an old employer, or anybody else. After that, you should write all of this information on your letterhead, with your name, address, phone number, e-mail address, and other contact information at the very top. Finally, you have a page dedicated to testimonials. Imagine these as brief endorsements of the product. Any potential employer or recruiter may look at it since it is something that can be read quickly. It is immediately apparent to them that you possess an exceptionally high level of trustworthiness. That is the objective. Susan: so you include this in your portfolio of professional accomplishments? Indeed, Ford. susan: Additionally, you said that one of the techniques you used was to assume leadership responsibilities. Having said that, not all of us are leaders. How are we going to be able to do that if we are either being a hesitant leader or if we do not feel comfortable in that role? it is not necessary for you to have a personality that is aggressive and type A, Ford says. You have the ability to lead in a manner that is unique to you. When you are a member of a professional organization, you have the opportunity to take on several positions, such as secretary, treasurer, or vice president for programming. There is no need that you be particularly noticeable. It is not necessary for you to be in front of the whole group on a daily basis; rather, you should strive to advance into a leadership or responsible capacity in which you are really making a contribution. Not only are you paying your monthly dues, but you are also something more than simply lurking in the shadows. Let’s get you taking an active role in this. Let us put you in a position where you are not only expanding your talents but also expanding your network of connections via the job that you are doing volunteering. The kind of voluntary work that you are doing here is an excellent method to broaden your skill set and habits, which are things that you may not be able to perform or be required to do in your employment. susan: Although it is not paid job, it is valuable work that you may add to your credentials. Therefore, you should consider doing it. Ford is correct. susan: That is a fantastic option. You are familiar with the “seven habits of highly productive individuals” that were developed by Steven Covey. One method is referred to as “sharpening the saw,” which involves making consistent improvements. This is a concept that you have in a number of your ten tactics, and it is similar to this one. For someone who is interested in continuing their professional development, what particular advice would you provide them about their career? Ford: Well, the way I see it, no company is going to be interested in a candidate whose intellectual capital is stale, old, and worn out. This is how I see it. What is required of us is to remain up to date, to continue to learn, and to continue to develop. Workshops, seminars, teleseminars, webinars, books, booklets, e-books, mentors, and coaches are all examples of educational resources. It is without a doubt the case that there is an abundance of knowledge, assistance, and instructional material. According to my point of view, it is the task and responsibility of every professional to continue to develop and acquire new knowledge. You should constantly strive to be better tomorrow than you are today, learning more tomorrow, being more skilled, and being more prepared than you were yesterday. This is an essential component of eternal career management. That is the standard practice among experts. susan: Not only did you propose leadership responsibilities, but you also provided opportunities to give talks or write articles. What kinds of articles are there? Is it appropriate for them to be in your area of study? Should you be writing about something that is related to your career, or is it possible to write about anything else and yet be noticed? For example, one of the tactics that is used in eternal career management is the process of constructing your brand, which involves establishing your competence, reputation, and differentiating yourself as an expert or thought leader. As you indicated, writing is one of the methods that may be done to accomplish this. It is not necessary for you to write books. It is not even necessary for you to write articles for magazines. As an alternative, you may compose shorter pieces that you could publish on LinkedIn or even submit to a website. On a single page, it may be. It may be a half page, or it might be twenty pages. It’s hard to say. It doesn’t really make a difference. Getting your name out there, or what we used to call your “byline,” is the most critical element of the process. It is imperative that people see your name. Therefore, your trustworthiness and visibility will increase as a result. You will seem more appealing as an expert or even as a thought leader as a result of this. You may also consistently build your career management skills by presenting presentations, which is another fantastic approach to do so. There is no need that you stand in front of thousands of people and deliver a Ted Talk. You may begin with one step. It may be a chamber of commerce, a local neighborhood, or a community organization that you are a part of. It could also be that an organization has a smaller group that meets in your region on a regular basis. When compared to stepping up in front of a hundred people, standing up in front of five people is not nearly as challenging, hence it is essential to begin with a smaller audience. Although it is possible that public speaking is not for everyone, it is just one more method that may be used to get your name and face out there, establish your reputation, and continue to manage your profession in a continuous manner. Susan: I am aware that companies place a high value on your continued professional development. In point of fact, during interviews, they will often question you directly, “What have you been doing recently to better your skills?” in a wide variety of situations. a correct statement, Ford. susan: And what are some more ways that talents may be continuously improved? I am aware that we discussed enrolling in courses. Are there any other internet resources that you can think of? Ford: clearly, there are a great number of them. In the event that you were to search for “computer skills,” “interpersonal skills,” “diversity training,” or any other related topic on Google, you would get a comprehensive list of educational possibilities that are available within your local neighborhood. My advice would be to just search it up. You will discover it. After that, take action. Take a risk. Give something fresh a go. Learn something new today! susan: The majority of individuals, when they think about networking, think of building relationships in order to promote their company or their recruitment efforts. However, you also propose asking “how can I assist you?” in the post that you wrote on the ten most important methods. Regarding the promotion of eternal career management and the assistance it provides to your own career, how does it work? Ford: I consider this to be a long-term endeavor to create your reputation, or what other people refer to as your “brand.” Both of these terms are used interchangeably. Everybody has something they need, every person has hobbies, and every person values different things. If you have a reputation that has been built up over many years of being service-oriented, providing real value, and showing genuine generosity, then you are going to go a very, very long way. If you are good at asking about and fulfilling some of those needs, then you are going to go as far as you possibly can. ford: In light of this, I believe that one of the aspects of networking, which is thus a component of continuous career management, is the process of establishing a reputation for being giving, helpful, interested, and involved. What are some of the reasons why people do not take advantage of doing this, Susan? There are several reasons. In addition to the passage of time, what are the reasons why individuals do not do this? I don’t see why they don’t make an effort to create their careers in it. It is true that eternal career management requires more time, additional work, and additional discipline; yet, there are some individuals who have simply never heard of this concept and have never considered it. To tell you the truth, the majority of people go to their jobs, then they return home, then they return to their jobs, and so on. The idea of this never even crosses their minds. People that are ambitious, individuals who want to grow and better, and people who really embrace the notion of professional and personal growth are the groups who I believe are most likely to find this line of thinking appealing. susan: In addition to that, you noted that you often question, “How can I offer more?” Is this something that you say to everyone in your immediate vicinity, or do you make it known to the managers and other people in your immediate environment? You should strive to improve your personal performance at work while you have a job, since this is an essential component of eternal career management. So it’s not only something that happens outside of the work; it also happens inside the job. This is about requesting a greater degree of responsibility. It is something that you put out there for everyone to see, including your employer and your team. Ford: This is the point at which a lot of people will say to me, “But I don’t even have enough time to accomplish what I’m already supposed to be doing.” they will say this to me. The question is, “How am I supposed to ask for additional responsibility?” So, that’s going to be a more lengthy discussion. the majority of the time, it is related to the process of learning how to delegate tasks and being more selective about where you spend your time and effort. However, the answer to your query is that you have put it out there in a straightforward manner. Additionally, you make a request for additional responsibility when it seems to be suitable. Because of this, you will be chosen for the plum jobs, which are assignments with a high level of exposure. In the event that a fresh chance presents itself, this is what will lead to your promotion. susan: in addition to actively looking at other possibilities. In a sense, it is as if you should be prepared to advance at the drop of a hat. That refers to yet another tactic. Additionally, it is similar to building up that armament so that in the event that the job you are now working at does not work out or if anything happens within the business, you are prepared to move on in your career at a moment’s notice. ford: That is correct, and the key to successful career management is always being ready for everything that may come your way. It indicates that you are always going to be at the top of your game and that you are constantly prepared. You have prepared all of your materials, including your paperwork, your oral comments, your connections, and your network, as well as your interactions with recruiters, and they are always up to date. This is a radically different way of thinking. The experience is both powerful and engaging. It is something that may provide a person with a stronger feeling of control and actually open up options for the future that would not be available in any other circumstance! The copyright for this work belongs to career potential, LLC. Ford R. Myers, a well-known career advisor who is also the author of the book “obtain the job you want, even when no one’s recruiting,” has granted permission for this article to be reproduced here. Please visit http://www.careerbookbonuses.com in order to get your free career success gifts right now. Employment, self-marketing, eternal career management, networking, job, career portfolio, and other relevant topics are included in this collection. Send a friend an email with this story! Get stories like this one sent to your inbox directly from the source! Get a free subscription right now!
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