Summertime Career Thoughts

It’s summertime, at least unofficially! You’ve been couped up all winter and now it’s time for barbeques, swimming, taking vacations and long weekends, celebrating graduations and weddings and most of all enjoying friends and family. How about mapping out a strategy for your career? Like many people over the last five years you might have been more concerned and just happy to have a job. You’ve been working long hours and doing the job of multiple people. The economy is in the beginning stages of rebounding, many companies are starting to hire again and you are actually rising above the mounds of paper for the first time like a ground hog seeing its shadow, only to realize there is a world out there. Here are my 5 tips, plus a bonus to think about:

1) There is a positive side to everything. So you’ve been bogged down with the work of multiple people, you’re tired, exhausted and haven’t been able to take a real vacation. Maybe even a little bitter or resentful. Now is a good time to stop and think about some of the benefits. What have you learned? Have you gained more skills, built new relationships, maybe got more exposure to higher level people? Took on a project that you may not have otherwise had the opportunity to do? Think about all of the things that you can add to your resume and use to market yourself. Really! There is good in all of that!

2) I’ve been doing some recruiting for the past few months (hence the silence in my blogging). The one question that I ask my candidates all the time is “tell me what is great about you?” Now, I don’t mean to be arrogant but I do want you to toot your own horn. There is such a pool of great candidates out there right now that you need to take some time to think about why a prospective employer needs to have you or better yet, why they can’t live without you.  You need to stand above the crowd to get that job because believe me, there are people standing in line behind you to take it.

3) Summer time is a great time to think about additional training you might need to move your career forward or in another direction. What types of industry certifications can you consider, maybe take a summer class at a local university or online, are there any company sponsored programs being offered or a book you can read. There is always another way to educate yourself.

4) Are you tired of doing what you are doing? Do you feel like you can do your job in your sleep and are not feeling challenged? It’s a great time to hire a Coach or work with a mentor to strategize about what types of jobs you can easily transition in to utilize your experience, knowledge and skills. What are your strengths? Maybe you just want a new challenge or a completely different career path. Take the down time to think with a clear head, long and hard about it.

5) Take care of you! You are the sole driver of your career. Don’t allow anyone to derail you. If you need to take a step back, do it. There is nothing wrong with realizing you are going down the wrong path and making a sharp left to get back on the right one. It might need some extra explaining when interviewing but what a great way to acknowledge that you were not going in the direction you wanted, took control and got back on track. Bravo!

BONUS TIP: Pay it forward. Are you at a point in your career where you don’t feel like you need to join in on the rat race as much as you did when you are in your 20’s? What a great feeling, right?  It’s also a perfect time to be a mentor to someone that is right there. What a better way to use your years of experience than to help someone else navigate the jungle of their own careers.

Whatever the choice, think it out, be strategic, ask lots of questions and most important, make sure it feels right to you .