6/25/09: 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 building credibility at work, social media etiquette, what it takes to make it in a flexible work assignment, career traps for solopreneurs, and a selection of hot jobs.
From Alison Green at US News and World Report: How to Build Credibility at Work
“One of the most important types of capital you can build at work is a reputation for being highly credible. It takes time to build it, and you can significantly undermine it through even a single bad move. Here’s how to build unshakable credibility.”
Wally’s Comment: You may check this out and think, “That’s just common sense.” You’d be right, but that doesn’t mean it will hurt you to review it.
From Media Daily News: Is there such a thing as social media etiquette?
“For job hunting and personal branding, social media is a free and easy way to network and communicate, but as more and more sites are bombarded with business banter, it’s essential not to cross the line between strategic networking and shameless self-promotion.
Wally’s Comment: This is the first post on social media etiquette that I’ve selected for Top Career Posts. That’s because it’s the first one I’ve come across that’s both clear and practical and also written for people with a reasonable IQ.
From Workstyle Design: 10 Characteristics of a Successful Flexible Worker
“Wondering if a flexible work arrangement is right for you? Whether you’re interested in flexible hours, telecommuting, working from a satellite office, coworking, or participating in a ROWE, flexible work isn’t a good fit for everyone. Here are 10 characteristics you must have—or develop—to thrive in a flexible work environment.”
Wally’s Comment: As they strive for cost-saving greenness, many organizations are looking at a variety of alternative working arrangements. Before you accept a flexible arrangement of any kind, talk to some people doing it and read this post.
From All Things Workplace: Real Freedom in the Free Agent Workplace
“Coaches, Consultants, Writers, Speakers, Trainers . . . each of you has, as part of your dream, the desire to be “free” from certain constraints. But you may be boxing yourself in more than you realize.”
Wally’s Comment: If you read Steve Roesler’s post and take his advice you will not be sitting around at the end of your career looking puzzled about where the money went and you won’t be sitting in some airport having a breakdown and wondering how you’re going to get it all done and still survive.
From the NY Times: Despite Recession, High Demand for Skilled Labor
“The unemployment rate has risen precipitously to 9.4 percent, the highest level in nearly 30 years, and most of the jobs that do come open are quickly filled from the legions of seekers. But unnoticed in the government’s standard employment data, employers are begging for qualified applicants for certain occupations, even in hard times. Most of the jobs involve skills that take years to attain.”
Wally’s Comment: There are some high paying secure jobs going begging these days because there aren’t enough trained people to fill them. That’s the good news. The bad news is that they all require years of preparation. It reminds me of the old Chinese saying. When is the best time to plant a tree? Twenty years ago. When is the second best time? Today.