Newswise — The unemployment rate is in a holding pattern and so is your career. Will you be ready for the next move when the job market expands? Katharine Brooks, a nationally recognized career specialist and the executive director of personal and career development at Wake Forest University says while job options are up in the air, there are down-to-earth things you can do to get ready for your next opportunity.
Prepare yourself for your next job while you’re still in the present one. If your next career move is into management, are there creative ways you can begin to develop your mentoring, team building and problem-solving skills in your current role? Are there classes you could take in the evening or other ways to acquire those skills?
Break the habit of routine behavior. Don’t just “get by” until something better comes along. You won’t stand out, and you won’t be first in line for promotions when and if they arrive. Also, you may not get the best recommendations from your boss or co-workers if you aren’t being a team player and working hard. If you’re bored, volunteer for new assignments.
Create personal contests to keep yourself energized. Can you surpass last month’s productivity – maybe increase your clients or number of contacts or sales? How can you reward yourself for staying active on the job?
Meet new people. If you’re always hanging out with the same people, break the pattern. Set up coffee or lunch meetings with someone new, and take the time to learn from others in the organization.
Stay active on social media. Don’t post that you are looking for a job but rather find ways to connect with new people related to your desired job. Start posting articles you find related to the career you want. For example, if you hope to move into a position in public relations, find articles about the latest trends in PR and start tweeting about them or posting them to LinkedIn. Make sure you are following the key leaders in your desired field. Position yourself as a thought-leader.
Find something to look forward to after work. Make sure you’re spending time with family and friends and developing hobbies. It’s not uncommon to get in ruts elsewhere in your life when your work life starts to get stale.
Though career opportunities may be hard to find, it’s good to be prepared for a new flight plan. “You never know,” says Brooks, “if you follow these guidelines, your new job might just come looking for you.”
Katharine Brooks is the author of “You Majored in What?” Her blog, “Career Transitions,” is online at Psychology Today. Follow her @KatharineBrooks.
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