Whether you want a new job, or a better job, here’s a list of the absolute best lessons for managing your career. These come from Joann Lublin, a workplace expert who’s been sharing career advice with the Wall Street Journal for 17 years!
- Lesson #1: Network effectively, not aimlessly. In other words, focus on building better ties with the “connectors” in your social network – like your doctor, minister, accountant, or even your hairstylist! These are people who may have nothing to do with your line of work, but they’ll have connections that cut across all industries. Experts say “connectors” tend to make better introductions to potential employers, because they offer built-in familiarity, and employers prefer hiring people they already know and trust!
- Career Lesson #2: Create a “pre-résumé.” That’s a one-page document that introduces you, highlights four career accomplishments, and offers a brief explanation of how you plan to improve a particular company. Our expert says a pre-résumé is better than a cover letter or standard resume because it shows your value to employers faster. Standard résumés only list your past, rather than promote the skills that’ll benefit your future.
- The next lesson: Be ready for reinvention. Lublin says the most valuable baseball players are switch-hitters, who are capable of batting right- AND left-handed. Managers are more likely to keep switch-hitters on a team, because they can handle any pitch thrown their way! So, you need to think of your career the same way, and develop as many new skills as possible. After all, you won’t have to worry about keeping one job if you have skills that transfer to several jobs!
- One more lesson for managing your career: ALWAYS sweat the small stuff. Job recruiters say showing up for a job interview in wrinkled clothing, scuffed shoes or messy hair shows poor judgment. Even your bathroom habits can derail your career before it begins. Our expert remembers talking to a receptionist who could hear the faucet running in the bathroom near her desk. She says applicants who didn’t wash their hands before meeting with the boss were never offered a job.
