Career Articles
Resolutions
By Stephanie Clark, B.A., CRS
“Twas the first of the year, and all through the land
folks considered their careers. They plotted and planned,
now revamping their resumes, and renewing connections,
Searching the web in hopes of meaningful direction,
For courses to take, career progress to make!
Because, such was, they knew – hard work and – stick-to-itness –
the stuff for which Lady Luck has an irresistible weakness.”
Yes, these are the hopes and aspirations of career practitioners
everywhere – that their clients will work hard and unceasingly at
establishing and advancing their careers. Some people lament that
others are lucky, as if one lands a great career through luck alone. We
all know that 99% of "overnight successes" take years of hard work – and
a tiny 1% may have a legitimate claim to “luck.” Perhaps “luck” can be
explained as the “Lady” favouring those who work hard while displaying
gratitude, hope and good nature.
However you define luck, make 2008 your year to be ready for that great
job, step forward, or unbelievable break. Here are a few suggestions on
how to be prepared:
Get help
If you hate your job, are at a dead end, or have no idea what you
want to do or be, why not find someone to help you out of your rut and
on the road to better things? You owe it to yourself and those who have
to put up with your bad moods. Seek out a career coach or counsellor, go
to the library and complete some of the self-help career guides, or go
on-line. There are so many resources available that you really have no
excuse at all. There are free, moderately priced, and high end options.
Stop making excuses – do something about it.
Prepare yourself
Once you’ve found your new direction, be realistic. Career
transitions, even minor ones, often necessitate finding a mentor,
relocation, or accepting a drop in salary. Change often involves
sacrifices. You may have to take a course or two, or even return to
schooling full time. But again, options and resources exist. For
updating your training, check out your local educational institutions.
If attending classes is a challenge, you may find online training is
the way to go. For example, www.ontariolearn.com offers accredited
college courses, completed from the comfort of your own home, or at the
library’s computer; check it out!
Be ready
When you have figured out what you want to do and have executed your
plan to the point where you are ready to start looking, make sure that
you hit the ground running with an up-to-date, state-of-the-art resume,
a well presented portfolio or “accomplishments file,” and a polished
interview style. Resumes have evolved; the old standard is no longer
effective. Put some effort into presenting yourself – after all, your
resume is truly your first impression. If you don’t have an
accomplishments file, start one now. Include emails of thanks for a job
well done, industry awards you have earned, annual reviews and even
position descriptions. Seek out a coach if you know that you are
“interview challenged”, so you can learn and practice confident
responses to even the most difficult of questions. You can also check
out your local library for interview strategy resources.
Your career is yours to create. To quote self-help guru Zig Zigler, “If
you keep doin' what you've been doin', you'll keep gettin' what you've
been gettin'.” I truly hope that I’ve lit a fire under someone’s
“pinned to the chair” pants! That at least a few amongst you will
finally wriggle loose of whatever excuses have kept you pinned down,
and that you will find a new career direction.
All the best to our readers throughout 2008!
Stephanie Clark, B.A., CRS - New Leaf Resumes - www.newleafresumes.ca; 519-505-5627
