Investing In Your Career - Your Work Is Your Business

[Lindy Asimus]

Working lately with some great people whose jobs have been made redundant and are now looking for new jobs, it is interesting to see some of the issues that come to light, in respect of what they consider to be their responsibility to equip themselves for their future working life.

Training is one area that arises. A particular kind of training may be of interest to the candidate, and may be the natural progression for their career in terms of skills building and advancement. However the consideration of whether to complete the training, either by those looking for work still, or even those who are employed, but precarious in their positions, can still be dependant on someone else picking up the tab to pay for the training.

This brings to mind for me, those in business who believe that they don't need to have systems, don't need to have a business plan, don't need to manage their business in a professional way.

In both cases, the opportunity goes begging, and I suspect for the employee not prepared to invest in their marketability and skills, so as to be most attractive to prospective employees, they too are 'leaving money on the table', just as surely as the business owners do.

Who hurts, from not keeping skills current and being ahead of the game? They do.

Someone looking for work HAS a job right now. Getting A Job. That is a project that needs to be driven just as surely as if one was working right now. Write a plan of action, carry out what needs to be done. Monitor your results, and keep your skills honed. That includes your emotional well-being.

And remember, if you are already in a job - the Job For Life era is over. Be newjob ready even as you are in your present job.