One of my nephews is graduating from Rutgers in a couple days. We are all very proud of him and look forward to his future accomplishments. As he gets ready to start his career, he is getting advice and input from all sides. Though a bit overwhelming at times, it's a good thing.
Being receptive to (and seeking out) the input of people who have already blazed the trail is a smart move. Like mentoring, this informal research is a process that can provide real benefits. There are tips and tricks you can pick up from "the old hands" that will help jump start your career progress.
One smart young person in my field (Learning & Organization Development) contacted me the other day for my advice on what she could do to accelerate her entry into the field. Here are the points I shared with her.
1. Network Network Network - NJ-based speaker and coach Michael Goldberg says, Always Be Connecting. It's the ABC of networking. You will meet people. You will learn. You will expand your horizons. And you will make valuable connections that will payoff later.
2. Know what you want - Have specific goals and go after them. Make sure that every day you have done something (even just thinking about your goals) to move the ball toward your goals.
3. Show up - Don't be shy. You've got to stand out. You can do this in-person by showing up at professional meetings, and on-line by establishing your brand image via LinkedIn etc.
4. Stand out - Early in the Great Recession, downsized New Yorker Charles Pixley said, You have to put yourself out there. You have to be seen. You have to believe in yourself.
5. Pitch in - Can you volunteer some of your time each week to help in some way? There are many needs. You just have to choose. Volunteering is good for others and good for you.
6. Keep learning - Just because you have graduated from college does not mean you can stop learning. Rather stay open, stay curious, keep exploring. Challenge yourself to learn something new every day.
7. Find your unique gift - There is so much competition in the market today. You must differentiate yourself. But how? Everyone has a unique gift, what writer Dick Richards and ex-monk Kenny Moore call your daimon. It's the special thing that no one has but You. Few find it and use it. But finding it is one of the keys to happiness and success.
Lastly, continue asking questions and seeking guidance! Kudos to you for reaching out and seeking such input. I did the same thing over 30 years ago and it got me started into the field. I still do it to this day.
There are so many young people like my nephew (and like the young woman who contacted me) who are just starting out on their career paths. Listening to "the old hands" may be somewhat tiresome, but their stories and their wisdom can be a gift, especially when it helps a newbie accelerate the start of a brilliant career.
Posted by Terrence Seamon on Saturday May 12, 2012
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