On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 10 gifts to give your career

On the Job by Anita Bruzzese 10 gifts to give your career As the gift-giving season draws to a close, its time to remember that you still have one more gift left to bestow: The gift of a better career.No one can really predict what the several years will bring in the job market, but its clear that everyone has to make more of an investment in their future. That means being better prepared for downturns in the economy or your industry, and keeping an active network so that when bad times do hit, youre ready to get the help you need.Here are 10 gifts to give your career in the coming year:1. Stay current. Invest time in reading the latest industry news. Know how national or international events may impact your business, and what youre doing to prepare. Are you targeting projects so they anticipate market conditions? Those who help the company become more innovative or strategic will make themselves key players and those are the people a company is more likely to retain and promote.2. Get more training. Ask your boss for opportunities to trai n in other departments, or to attend seminars or classes at a local university. If the company wont fund your efforts, look for free webinars or podcasts online that provide experts to expand your knowledge. Your resume should always be able to reflect that youve kept up on the latest training and skills.3. Be the dumbest person in the room. Attend an event or sign up for an online class that really challenges you. Step outside your comfort zone and into a subject that you know nothing about. Becoming too comfortable in your career and with your skills can set you up for problems if you suddenly find yourself out of work. Always look for ways to expand your horizons and be able to show an employer how you faced a challenge and learned.4. Embrace social media. You may think Twitter is only for posting what you had for lunch or Facebook is only for showing funny photos for your friends. But social media should be another tool you use to enhance your personal brand and make others see you as a tuned-in, interesting professional in your field. It doesnt have to be a huge time suck spend a few minutes a couple of times a day interacting with others in your field, posting interesting links or asking questions of other professionals.5. Attend one professional event a year. Meeting with others in your field face-to-face is important, and these events often provide access to the latest trends or key movers in your field. Instead of a latte every day, start putting the money into a professional event fund.6. Find a mentor. Ask someone you respect and feel you really connect with for feedback on what youre doing with your career or in your job. This can be as simple as having a cup of coffee and saying, Id really like to have your opinion on this. Or, you can ask a professional organization about helping you find a mentor who can help guide you through some career issues. Having someone in your life to add fresh ideas or provide a different prospective can be invaluabl e for your career.7. Be consistent. You cant post drunken photos of yourself on Facebook or have a screen saver at work that is offensive and then expect employers or colleagues to see you professionally. Dont expect to show up late for work several times a week and then expect the boss to hand over a big project. Decide the message you want to send others and then stick to it.8. Bring sanity to your schedule. Employees are being asked to do more work with fewer resources during these tough times. That has taken a physical and emotional toll on many people. They may feel they have even less time for a personal life, which compounds the stress. For a week, keep close track of your tasks and the amount of time they take. Then, look for ways to bring a better balance to your life. Enlist the help of family or friends to devise a schedule that makes sense for your well-being in the coming year.9. Pick up the phone. E-mail and social media provide a great way to communicate with others, but to establish a more personal connection, use the telephone. If youve gone more than a week in speaking personally with key colleagues or customers, give them a call. Better yet, meet with them in person. Maintaining these personal connections is critical to creating a strong professional network.10. Take the high road. Make a commitment to send e-mails that are polite and friendly. Dont gossip at work. Give a sincere compliment to a co-worker every day. Use your personal cell phone out of earshot of others. Stress has shortened the fuse of many at work, and taking these steps will help make the day better for a lot of colleagues. Fostering goodwill is a gift to yourself and to others.What are some other ways to help your career this year?Social Bookmarking