10/23/08: Top Career Posts this Week
Every week I check dozens of “career” blogs and other online publications, looking for things that will help you find a job, get promoted, develop your skills, and keep everything in perspective and balance. Here’s the pick of the lot for this week. I’m pointing you to items about getting feedback when you’re turned down for a job, career paths to leadership, personal branding tips, keeping your job, and risk taking at work.
From Alison Green at US News & World Report: How to Get Feedback When You’re Rejected
“So you thought the position was a perfect fit and your interview seemed to go well, but in the end, you didn’t get the job. You could speculate about why you weren’t hired, but if you’re really curious, why not try to actually find out by asking for some feedback from the hiring manager? Here’s how to do it.”
Wally’s Comment: This is another one of those topics you wish was covered in every “how to find a job” class.
From Dan McCarthy at Great Leadership: Career Paths to Leadership & Leadership Development
“I think it’s great that you’ve recognized that “leadership” is a calling, and that you already refer to yourself as a leader. Leadership is not a position, it’s the ability to enable others, and organizations, to achieve extraordinary results (That’s just my definition, by the way, there are hundreds of others).”
Wally’s Comment: If leadership is the kind of work you want to do, Dan’s response to a reader’s question gives you good advice on how to get there.
From Personal Branding: 7 Personal Branding Tips for College Graduates
“After changing majors a few times, I settled on public relations at the start of my junior year. Once I made that choice, I realized that I needed to establish an area of expertise, something that would set my personal brand apart from the thousands of other freshly minted public relations grads. For me, this was pretty easy; I wanted to focus on food and restaurants. The focus of your personal brand must be something you are going to enthusiastically look forward to learning and talking about every day.”
Wally’s Comment: This post takes the position that it’s never too early to begin thinking about your personal brand, and then gives you some tips on effective strategies.
“That scenario, or variations of it, will be repeated in the coming months as more troubled companies get gobbled up by bigger ones. But it’s not a foregone conclusion you’ll be let go. That’s where you come in.”
Wally’s Comment: Say, here’s something that’s on a lot of minds these days.
From 45 Things: Do You Have a Spineless Career?
“When was the last time you did something courageous at work? I’m not talking about cleaning out the office fridge (although that does take gumption) or trying a new font on your report. I’m talking about stepping out of your comfort zone, doing something that made your palms sweat or your knees quake.”
Wally’s Comment: Growth comes from stretching, from rising to new challenges. Here’s a post that shares some pointers about how to do that on the job.