12/4/09: 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 dealing with holes in your resume, using Twitter to explore careers, leadership questions to ask yourself, the challenges of a new job at the same company, and why you should make your own choices.
From Forbes: How to Deal with That Hole in Your Resume
“Today unemployed Americans job hunt for an average of 28 weeks, and the recession is causing more people who have been full-time caregivers to look for work too. But prolonged unemployment, and the résumé gap that reflects it, doesn’t have to be a liability. With a carefully crafted résumé, you can minimize the attention paid to a break in employment yet promote the skills you honed during you time off.”
Wally’s Comment: More and more people have those holes in the resume. Here’s a solid article on how to present them so they do you some good.
From the Career Key Blog: 3 Ways to Use Twitter to Explore Careers and Job Options
“Just like “lurking” in a forum or following a blog, following someone on Twitter can teach you lingo, show you trends, and even get you contacts through direct email. You can use it as a way for you to follow your “community” of people interested in similar occupations or industries.”
Wally’s Comment: Most of the posts on how to use Twitter are boringly similar. Juliet Wehr Jones offers some things I haven’t seen before. Good stuff.
From Steve Roesler writing at LeaderTalk: Eight Leadership Questions to Ask Yourself
“Effective leaders —and those who want to be— have at least one thing in common: each is an ongoing student of leadership. The ability to “learn and discern” forms the foundation for a lifetime of leading. Why? Because the key to success lies in choice. Decisions and the actions that follow determine the ultimate health of the organization and the people in it.”
Wally’s Comment: Too many people pursue the managerial career path reflexively. And many of them fall into The Boss Trap. One way to avoid the trap is to figure out if being a boss is something you’ll like and be good at. Steve Roesler’s questions will help you do some self-analysis, whether you’re a boss now or considering becoming one.
From the Wall Street Journal: New Job, Same Firm: Learning the Ropes
“While starting a new job means learning the ropes at an unfamiliar place, for those faced with a sudden role shift within the same company, the move can be even trickier. But it’s happening more these days as companies downsize and responsibilities shift. Whether you are moving from one internal job to another or suddenly answering to a new boss Rick Brandon, author of “Survival of the Savvy,” says you need to take steps to avoid the pitfalls of office politics and work overload. ”
Wally’s Comment: There’s always an adjustment when you take a new position. But there are some special things to consider if that job is in your current organization.
From Renegade HR: Why making your own path is way more fun (and other career insights)
“Several weeks ago, I had the pleasure of attending a Lunch with Leaders session with one of my informal mentors at EMC, Polly Pearson. Polly’s held many titles in her time at EMC, but a unifying thread has been her drive to create and sustain an awesome culture. Today, I’d like to share a few highlights from my lunch with Polly. ”
Wally’s Comment: Chris Ferdinandi shares insights from a conversation with one of his mentors.