Earlier this week, it was reported that more human resources managers
are optimistic about the job market. One-third of them plan to hire
this quarter. That's up from 26 percent from the fourth quarter of
last year. So things are looking up for those of you in the job market.
But this is also good news for those who already have a job. This
growing sense of optimism will probably translate into more opportunities
within your organization. So stay alert for opportunities to advance
or to move laterally to broaden your skills and position yourself
for future success.
As companies loosen their purse strings, they'll also be investing
more in training and development. Visit with your supervisor to find
out what new skills you need to improve your effectiveness and promotability.
Finally, I encourage you to expand your job description to include
"brand manager."
Read the article below to learn how this simple step can make you
stand out from the competition and jumpstart your career.
I
ran across an interesting statistic this week. It came from a study
of retailers about what drove the most visitors to their websites.
Do you know what topped the list?
It wasn't promotional emails or search engine results. Or internet
advertising or word-of-mouth recommendations. Or even social networking,
blogs or discussion forums.
Far and away, the greatest influence - some 38 percent of all website
visitors - was their familiarity with the company's brand. "What
does this have to do with me?" you ask.
Individuals, like companies, have a brand. Those who are proactive
at shaping their own "brand identity" are more likely to
be recognized and to get ahead in the work place. What is your brand
identity?
Here's a simple exercise I recommend to my clients. List the three
adjectives that would best describe how you are perceived by others
at work.
Now, here's the
tricky part (but it can be fun, too): develop specific, actionable
strategies to move your brand identity from list #1 to list #2. This
might involve training opportunities, volunteering for special assignments,
or even changing how you dress.
For example, if one of your desired brand attributes is "creative,"
look for opportunities to showcase your creativity.
Crafting your own, distinctive brand won't happen overnight.
But if you take your "brand manager" role seriously, you'd
be surprised at the difference you can make in achieving your career
goals.
EXECUTIVE COACHING: Garfinkle Executive Coaching provides individualized,
customized coaching to help you move to higher levels of leadership
by creating impact, exercising influence, boosting visibility and
achieving significant victories on key projects. http://www.garfinkleexecutivecoaching.com/
CAREER COACHING: You spend one-third of your life at
work, so you deserve to feel fulfilled by it. Joel's unique 7-Step
Dream Job Process focuses first and foremost on helping you find the
perfect job that aligns with your passions and natural talents. http://www.dreamjobcoaching.com/coaching/career/
SPEAKING: Frequent speaker at keynotes, meetings, conventions
and seminars. He will energize your keynotes, meetings, conventions
and seminars with his compelling and inspirational speaking style.
http://joelinspirationalspeaker.com/
EMPLOYEE OUTPLACEMENT PROGRAM:This
proven 9-step program provides unique, personalized services to displaced
workers. Whether you are a manager on your first job or a seasoned,
high-level executive, you will receive intensive one-on-one attention
and support to help you move quickly and successfully through the
job search process. http://www.outplacement-firm.com/
