Top 10 Tips To Recession-Proof Your Career
by Wendy J. Terwelp
Wendy Terwelp is President of Opportunity Knocks™. Since 1989, she has helped thousands of job seekers land gigs they love while getting paid what they’re worth. She holds six career industry certifications, including career coaching and personal branding. She’s also a professional speaker, speaking at Barnes & Noble, Women's Life Expo, professional organizations, career forums, universities, and more. As the founder of the Rock Your Network® 3-step system, she helps execs network without begging – and she is only two degrees from Kevin Bacon.
Email Wendy J. Terwelp
Opportunity Knocks, LLC
“Whenever you are asked if you can do a job, tell ‘em, ‘Certainly I can!’ Then get busy and find out how to do it.” -Theodore Roosevelt
Now is the time to take on extra responsibilities on the job and move out of your comfort zone. Here are 10 tips to help you recession-proof your career:
1. Speak up at the next staff meeting. Make a positive contribution to the conversation and share your ideas. Don’t wait until something happens and then say, “Gee that was MY idea.” How would anyone have known?
2. Schedule a review with your boss. Make her aware of your valuable contributions. It’s not bragging if it’s true AND your boss may not be aware of all you do. Track your results now. Go back into your emails and see how many customers praised your work. Create a “me file.”
3. Anticipate the needs of your coworkers — and other departments. You might be in product development, but you just read a good marketing article that’s on target for your company’s goals. Send it to your colleague in marketing with a brief note, “Saw this and thought you might find it helpful. Thanks for the hard work on the launch of the X project!”
4. Build bridges to other departments. When I worked in the newspaper industry there was a disconnect between advertising, production, and editing (reporting). I created a bridge simply by asking questions and learning more about the other departments. Cross train if your company has a program.
5. Provide genuine compliments. “Nice shoes” is OK, but “Wanda, your help on the gizmo project was invaluable. The fact that you were able to land coverage in Wired magazine, WOW!” is better. Good compliments are specific — and genuine.
6. Mentor the newbie. What tips can you provide that will help this person succeed in your organization?
7. Take a class and build your skills. But then you won’t have your MBA until you’re 40 you say? Yes, but you’ll still be 40…Why not have the degree?
8. Become a thought leader in your industry. Start a blog. Write a whitepaper. Speak at your next industry conference.
9. Network inside and outside the company. Take an active role on employee improvement teams, volunteer groups, and professional organizations.
10. Shake things up. Think of at least one thing you can do right now that would save your department money, streamline operations or improve morale. And just do it! “But it’s always been done like that” is old thinking. “How can I improve this” is new thinking.
Bonus: Build your brand! Increase your visibility the right way to attract opportunities to you. Now more than ever, you’ve got to be noticed. (And I don’t mean that picture of you dancing on the table on MySpace.) Google yourself now to see where you stand.
Want more tips? Visit our newsroom.
Wendy Terwelp is President of Opportunity Knocks™. Since 1989, she has helped thousands of job seekers land gigs they love while getting paid what they’re worth. She holds six career industry certifications, including career coaching and personal branding.
Wendy has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Fast Company, The Business Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com, as well as several radio shows. She has written countless articles for numerous career websites, blogs, and publications. She’s also a professional speaker, speaking at Barnes & Noble, Women's Life Expo, professional organizations, career forums, universities, and more. As the founder of the Rock Your Network® 3-step system, she helps execs network without begging – and she is only two degrees from Kevin Bacon.
Visit her web site at www.knocks.com for tons of FREE career search tips. Email Wendy at consultant@knocks.com; mention where you saw this article, and get a FREE career search report.
Now is the time to take on extra responsibilities on the job and move out of your comfort zone. Here are 10 tips to help you recession-proof your career:
1. Speak up at the next staff meeting. Make a positive contribution to the conversation and share your ideas. Don’t wait until something happens and then say, “Gee that was MY idea.” How would anyone have known?
2. Schedule a review with your boss. Make her aware of your valuable contributions. It’s not bragging if it’s true AND your boss may not be aware of all you do. Track your results now. Go back into your emails and see how many customers praised your work. Create a “me file.”
3. Anticipate the needs of your coworkers — and other departments. You might be in product development, but you just read a good marketing article that’s on target for your company’s goals. Send it to your colleague in marketing with a brief note, “Saw this and thought you might find it helpful. Thanks for the hard work on the launch of the X project!”
4. Build bridges to other departments. When I worked in the newspaper industry there was a disconnect between advertising, production, and editing (reporting). I created a bridge simply by asking questions and learning more about the other departments. Cross train if your company has a program.
5. Provide genuine compliments. “Nice shoes” is OK, but “Wanda, your help on the gizmo project was invaluable. The fact that you were able to land coverage in Wired magazine, WOW!” is better. Good compliments are specific — and genuine.
6. Mentor the newbie. What tips can you provide that will help this person succeed in your organization?
7. Take a class and build your skills. But then you won’t have your MBA until you’re 40 you say? Yes, but you’ll still be 40…Why not have the degree?
8. Become a thought leader in your industry. Start a blog. Write a whitepaper. Speak at your next industry conference.
9. Network inside and outside the company. Take an active role on employee improvement teams, volunteer groups, and professional organizations.
10. Shake things up. Think of at least one thing you can do right now that would save your department money, streamline operations or improve morale. And just do it! “But it’s always been done like that” is old thinking. “How can I improve this” is new thinking.
Bonus: Build your brand! Increase your visibility the right way to attract opportunities to you. Now more than ever, you’ve got to be noticed. (And I don’t mean that picture of you dancing on the table on MySpace.) Google yourself now to see where you stand.
Want more tips? Visit our newsroom.
Wendy Terwelp is President of Opportunity Knocks™. Since 1989, she has helped thousands of job seekers land gigs they love while getting paid what they’re worth. She holds six career industry certifications, including career coaching and personal branding.
Wendy has been quoted in The Washington Post, The Chicago Tribune, Fast Company, The Business Journal, The Philadelphia Inquirer, Careerbuilder.com, Monster.com, as well as several radio shows. She has written countless articles for numerous career websites, blogs, and publications. She’s also a professional speaker, speaking at Barnes & Noble, Women's Life Expo, professional organizations, career forums, universities, and more. As the founder of the Rock Your Network® 3-step system, she helps execs network without begging – and she is only two degrees from Kevin Bacon.
Visit her web site at www.knocks.com for tons of FREE career search tips. Email Wendy at consultant@knocks.com; mention where you saw this article, and get a FREE career search report.