Are You Doing Your Career Yard Work?
Spring is that magical time of year when there is always something that needs weeding, planting and watering if a yard is to thrive. Regardless of the time spent laboring the day before, new things pop up daily demanding attention. Any guesses for how this relates to managing your professional development or job search? It’s pretty obvious.
Before I get to the career stuff, think about your own neighborhood. If it’s like mine, there is an assortment of yards.
- The neglected (overgrown/starved) with random clutter added to the scenery
- The somewhat maintained that need attention, but aren’t out of sorts enough to get a visit from the Homeowners’ Association
- The unpredictable that might look great or terrible depending on the week
- The perfectly manicured with a team of outsiders visibly doing all of the work
- The groomed, but overdone, with so much going on what could have been appealing becomes an eyesore
- The inviting, interesting and well-maintained with the homeowners often seen with their hands in the dirt working on sustaining and improving
Now it’s time to think about your professional development and job search efforts in relation to the yards described above. Like a yard, successful efforts to grow professionally and to secure meaningful employment rely on property owners (that’s you!) consistently weeding, watering and planting skills, goals, networking, work strategy and professional messaging.
Professionally speaking, my goal is always to resemble the final bullet. No matter my job search status, I’m actively engaged in making sure I’m learning new things, keeping current on what I’ve learned before and pulling out what I no longer need. Because it’s a consistent focus, I have 24/7 curb appeal, the labor involved in maintenance is manageable and on top of others finding me interesting, credible and motivated, I have an easier time viewing myself that way, too.
Lisa Parker Joined the MSU Alumni Office in May of 2012 as the director of Alumni Career and Business Services. She was then elevated to senior director of Alumni Engagement in July of 2016. Her prior experience includes 17 years of progressive leadership roles in third party recruitment.