The ABC’s of Resilient Career Management: Becoming Career Resilient

Assess Yourself and Your Professional Environment

It’s time to acquire an entrepreneurial mindset and to begin thinking of your career as your business.  In order to stay marketable this may require becoming proactive in new ways, thinking outside “your” box, and keeping up with the trends and emerging opportunities in your industry to showcase your talents.

Begin by asking:

• What are the skills and attributes in top demand for your profession?
• What are the skills and talents that make you distinctive?
• What are the major trends currently affecting your current job position?
• What industry changes do you need to anticipate in the future?
• What new skills are required to be successful in your current position?
• What skills might be required in the future?
• What are the hot issues in my profession that I need to address to remain competitive?

Build Your Brand

The key product in your business is YOU.  Your job is to effectively market yourself to create a demand for what you have to offer.  So the question is “how do you market the brand ‘you’ in new ways?” 

First you need to come up with your personal pitch. Ask yourself what it is that you offer that is different than your competitors? What is your professional value proposition?

If you can’t think of what distinguishes you, start out by writing your own personal mission statement.  What are you passionate about?  What is your personal definition of success? 

• What is your most noteworthy personal trait?
• What have you done recently to make yourself stand out?
• What would colleagues say about you?
• What are the capabilities that you would like to use more fully?
• What are the gaps in your skills that you need to address?

Cultivate New Contacts

Networking is essential to your self-marketing strategy.  Using your expertise, interests and knowledge in activities that draw on your capabilities in new ways will increase your marketing options and boost your visibility professionally with colleagues and employers. 

Some possible examples:

• Get involved with professional organizations – work on committees, run for office.
• Volunteer to write articles for professional magazines, online sites and blogs.
• Investigate opportunities to speak on professional panels, on podcasts and online interview shows.
• Create and market your own podcast or blog.

These kinds of activities will boost your professional visibility, showcase your talents, expand your network, and re-energize your career.  You’ll get credit for being an expert, increase ways to be a valuable contributor and enhance your professional standing.