While I’m all for staying present and enjoying summer, I also run a career coaching practice – one that I have run since 2001 – which helps people land their dream job or promotion and usually for far more money! That means I think differently about summer.
Every year I am reminded as to how valuable the summertime can be for your career and often what happens if you let things slide.
So let me be clear – the next 6 weeks can be precious – both for you, your family and for your career.
Why:
I am presuming this year – this summer and this fall – are going to run true to form: the end of July and August will be slow in the job market and by early September and after the kids get back into school, the big bosses will be back, and hiring / projects will kick back into higher gear.
- Are you planning to look for a job in September?
- Hoping for a promotion before the end of 2017?
- Are you staying relevant and marketable in your industry?
Please don’t ignore your career this summer!
When you want a great career full of opportunity, money and relevance, it’s important to be thinking a few steps ahead and to remain as consistent and pro-active as possible.
Planning and consistency are critical to your success. Only popping onto LinkedIn when you feel ‘inspired’ and think you should accept some connections in case someone finds you on a job search – that usually doesn’t work well. It also creates unnecessary feelings of overwhelm and stress when/if you do have to get down to job hunting quickly.
Specifically:
- Keeping up to date on capturing your accomplishments (say in a simple spreadsheet)
- Reviewing/setting your goals and keeping in touch with your colleagues and your ex-bosses
- Creating new connections both face-to-face (F2F) and online is part of being consistent. Summer is a great time to go for a coffee/drink or participate in a golf event or other in person event.
I often amuse my coaching clients by saying in my next life I could be a ‘Dating and Relationship’ coach…
“Dating is like job hunting….
And keeping you happy and prosperous in your career is similar to keeping you
happy in your marriage”.
Yeah, I know, it either makes you chuckle or grimace.
It is quite an accurate analogy though.
Being Consistent:
So think of the necessity for consistency this way — let’s say you are dating and you really like the person but they don’t respond to your text messages for days. Or you made plans but they never showed up. Then a week later they text you back as if nothing happened. Do you trust them? Are you really going to want to meet up again for another date? Or has the trust factor reduced and the flake factor significantly increased.
Excuses are easy yet not professional – nor are they going to allow you to stand out and get noticed when everyone else is sliding through summer.
When it takes you 2 months to get back in touch with a connection, or when you only update your resume every blue moon, or when you only reach out to your network as you need them (for say a recommendation or endorsement), you lose trust – by others as well as yourself.
Yes, you let yourself down as much as you lose trust with other people!
Where To Go:
MeetUp groups, conferences, Toastmasters or a professional Mastermind group will get you in front of some interesting people. People who will ask what you do and where you can practice and keep fresh your “personal commercial” or “elevator pitch. I remind you that “What’s In It For Them” is the basis of great connections plus an invaluable foundation when you are dealing with Hiring Managers and bosses.
Most people’s lifestyle is heavily linked to their income – why would you ignore your career and hope that it works out. It is like ignoring your spouse/partner/kids and hoping they still like you next year!
Want More Support?
Yes, I love to work with career coaching clients to jumpstart your career into high gear yet really I just want to make sure that you are highly marketable – whether it is in 3 months or 3 years. That is what my career coaching practice is all about: helping you get the job, or the promotion, plus the money of your dreams!
Want more support?
Contact me on LinkedIn or AskACareerExpert.com
P.S. I like margaritas if you want to connect up with me:)